Palola viridis

Palola viridis
Conservation status
Data Deficient (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Annelida
Class:	Polychaeta
Order:	Eunicida
Family:	Eunicidae
Genus:	Palola
Species:	P. viridis
Binomial name
Palola viridis (Gray, 1840)
Synonyms[1][2]
Leodice viridis Lamarck, 1818 Lysidice palola Quatrefages, 1866 Palolo viridis Gray in Stair, 1847 (misspelling) Eunice viridis

Palola viridis, commonly known as the palolo worm, Samoan palolo worm, wawo or nyale, is a Polychaeta species from the waters of some of the Pacific islands, including Samoa, Vanuatu, and the islands of the Malaysian Archipelago (Indonesia and the Philippines).

Life cycle[]

Palolo worm life cycle

Reproduction involves mass spawning at night in spring or early summer (October – November in the Southern Hemisphere). The terminal parts of their bodies drop off and float over the surface of the water, releasing sperm and eggs. The mechanisms or triggers which induce spawning such that it occurs during nights of a waning moon, continuing for several nights, are not completely known.^[3][4] Exposure to sunlight destroys this "tail" part of the worm's body afterwards.^[5]

Taxonomy[]

It is sometimes considered to be synonymous with .

Distribution[]

The palolo worm is found in tropical regions around various islands of the Pacific Ocean, including Samoa, Indonesia, Vanuatu, and some islands of the Philippines. They are variously known as the palolo worm, wawo or nyale (Indonesia).^{[5][6][7][3][8][9][10]} Within these tropical regions, the palolo worms usually found in shallow water where there is coral rubble for them to take shelter in. ^[11]

Cultural use[]

Some Indigenous populations in regions where palolo occur use the reproductive portion of the worm as a food source. During their short-lived annual appearance in the last quarter of the moon in October and November, worms are gathered with nets or buckets, and are either eaten raw or cooked in several different ways.

In Samoa, the worms are revered as a great delicacy, with hunting for them taking place seven days after the first full moon in October. Often bright blue in colour, the flavour is said to resemble a cross between mussels, abalone and oysters. They are sometimes eaten fresh, but usually fried with butter and onions and served with taro or banana chips. The palolo harvest is part of the culture and tradition of Samoans, where the feast is shared with family and relatives, but in recent years has been sold in the markets of Apia and Salelologa for more than A$100 per kilogram.^[5]

On the island of Lombok in Indonesia, a traditional event called the Nyale Festival, or Bau Nyale (meaning "to catch the sea worms^[7]), is held between February and March. The event focuses on catching these worms, which are known as wawo.^[8][7] In local legend, the nyale are believed to be the reincarnation of Princess Mandalika, who had jumped into the sea to drown herself.^[12]

The spawning event is so important to the inhabitants of the Torres and Banks Islands of Vanuatu that it is featured in their lunar calendar.^[13]

References[]

External links[]

• Image of the head of a palolo worm from the Smithsonian Institution
• Samoa Worm Sperm Spawns Annual Fiesta from National Geographic
• The Lunar Calendar of the Banks Islands

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