The nature of the pigments in the crowns of sabellid and serpulid polychaetes

SUMMARY The pigments in the crowns of a number of sabellids and serpulids have been examined. The main pigments of sabellid crowns are ommochromes, but these pigments have not been found in serpulids. Both sabellids and serpulids also possess astaxanthin, and in Serpula, Protula and the sabellid Chone infundibuliformis it is to this pigment or an ester that the colour of the crown is due. The main carotenoids have been identified and the presence of a possible intermediate ketocarotenoid in amounts varying from one species to another suggests that the astaxanthin or astaxanthin ester is synthesized by the worms from carotene derived from the food. Pomatoceros has pink and blue pigments, and Galeolaria a similar grey-blue pigment which could not be identified with any known class of pigment. Neither these nor ommochromes have previously been found in annelids.