Phylum

Annelida Lamarck, 1809

Annelids

Taxon overview

Annelids are segmented worms (including bristleworms, earthworms and leaches). Being soft-bodied organisms, annelids rarely preserve in fossil record, except those forms that build calcareous tubes or possess jaws. However, annelids, and polychaetes in particular, may have been responsible for making different types of trace fossils.

Selection of related publications

Vinn, O., Isakar, M., El Hedeny, M., Almansour, M. I., Farraj, S. 2025. First record of agglutinated worm tubes from the uppermost Cambrian of Estonia. Acta Geologica Polonica 75, 3, e41.

Tonarová, P., Suttner, T., Hints, O., Liang, Y., Zemek, M., Kubajko, M., Zikmund, T., Kaiser, J., Kido, E. 2024. Late Ordovician scolecodonts and chitinozoans from the Pin Valley in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, northern India. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 69, 2, 199-215. DOI:10.4202/app.01135.2024

Männik, R. 2024. Siluri ajastu Lau sündmuse mõju mikrofossiilidele Bebirva 111 puuraugus Leedus [Bakalaureusetöö. Juhendajad: O. Hints ja T. Meidla]. pp. 1-54.

Hints, O., Tonarová, P. 2023. A diverse Hirnantian scolecodont assemblage from northern Estonia and resilience of polychaetes to the end-Ordovician mass extinction. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 72, 1, 46-49. DOI:10.3176/earth.2023.20

Hints, O., Ainsaar, L., Lepland, A., Liiv, M., Männik, P., Meidla, T., Nõlvak, J., Radzevičius, S. 2023. Paired carbon isotope chemostratigraphy across the Ordovician–Silurian boundary in central East Baltic: Regional and global signatures. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 624, 1-17. DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111640

Slater, B. J., Harvey, T. H. P., Guilbaud, R., Butterfield, N. J. 2017. A cryptic record of Burgess Shale-type diversity from the early Cambrian of Baltica. Palaeontology 60, 1, 117-140. Wiley. DOI:10.1111/pala.12273

Hints, O., Tonarová, P., Eriksson, M. E., Rubinstein, C. V., de la Puente, G. S. 2017. Early Middle Ordovician scolecodonts from north-western Argentina and the emergence of labidognath polychaete jaw apparatuses. Palaeontology 60, 4, 583-593. DOI:10.1111/pala.12303

Eriksson, M. E., Parry, L. A., Rudkin, D. M. 2017. Earth’s oldest ‘Bobbit worm’ – gigantism in a Devonian eunicidan polychaete. Scientific Reports 7, 1, 43061. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. DOI:10.1038/srep43061

Vinn, O., Toom, U., Isakar, M. 2017. The earliest cornulitid on the internal surface of the illaenid pygidium from the Middle Ordovician of Estonia. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 66, 4, 193-197. DOI:10.3176/earth.2017.19

Moutinho, L.P., Nascimento, S., Scomazzon, A.K.,Lemos, V.B. 2016. Trilobites, scolecodonts and fish remains occurrence and the depositional paleoenvironment of the upper Monte Alegre and lower Itaituba formations, Lower – Middle Pennsylvanian of the Amazonas Basin, Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 72, 76-94. DOI:10.1016/j.jsames.2016.06.011

Tonarová, P., Hints, O., Königshof, P., Suttner, T. J., Kido, E., Da Silva, A., Pas, D. 2016. Middle Devonian jawed polychaete fauna from the type Eifel area, western Germany, and its biogeographical and evolutionary affinities. Papers in Palaeontology 2, 2, 295-310. DOI:10.1002/spp2.1041

Hints, O., Tonarová, P., Desrochers, A. 2016. Late Ordovician jaw-bearing polychaetes from Anticosti Island, eastern Canada, and their biogeographic significance. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 53, 7, 731-738. DOI:10.1139/cjes-2015-0222

Hints, O., Paris, F., Al-Hajri, S. 2015. Late Ordovician scolecodonts from the Qusaiba-1 core hole, central Saudi Arabia, and their paleogeographical affinities. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 212, 1, 85-96. DOI:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.08.013

Benton, M., Donoghue, P., Vinther, J., Asher, R., Friedman, M., Near, T. 2015. Constraints on the timescale of animal evolutionary history. Palaeontologia Electronica 18.1.1FC, 1-106. DOI:10.26879/424

Tonarová, P., Hints, O., Eriksson, M. E. 2014. Impact of the Silurian Ireviken Event on polychaete faunas: new insights from the Viki drill core, western Estonia. GFF 136, 1, 270-274. DOI:10.1080/11035897.2013.862855

Eriksson, M. E., Hints, O., Bergman, C. F. 2012. Kingnites diamondi gen. et sp. nov., an exceptionally large Silurian paulinitid (Annelida; Polychaeta) from shallow marine settings of Baltoscandia. GFF 134, 3, 217-224. DOI:10.1080/11035897.2012.704066

Vinn, O., Kupriyanova, E. K., Kiel, S. 2012. Systematics of serpulid tubeworms (Annelida, Polychaeta) from Cretaceous and Cenozoic hydrocarbon-seep deposits in North America and Europe. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie. Abhandlungen 265, 3, 315-325. DOI:10.1127/0077-7749/2012/0271

Hints, O., Eriksson, M. 2010. Ordovician polychaeturid polychaetes: Taxonomy, distribution and palaeoecology. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55, 2, 309-320. DOI:10.4202/app.2009.0086

Vinn, O., Wilson, M. A. 2010. Sabellid-dominated shallow water calcareous polychaete tubeworm association from the equatorial Tethys Ocean (Matmor Formation, Middle Jurassic, Israel). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie. Abhandlungen 258, 1, 31-38. DOI:10.1127/0077-7749/2010/0080

Högström, A. E. S., Ebbestad, J. O. R., Suzuki, Y. 2009. Armoured annelids and molluscs from the Upper Ordovician Boda Limestone, central Sweden. GFF 131, 3, 245-252. DOI:10.1080/11035890903189801

Vinther, J., Briggs, D. E. G. 2009. Machaeridian locomotion. Lethaia 42, 3, 357-364. DOI:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2009.00165.x

Vinn, O. 2009. The ultrastructure of calcareous cirratulid (Polychaeta, Annelida) tubes. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 58, 2, 153-156. DOI:10.3176/earth.2009.2.06

Truuver, K. 2009. Skolekodondid Kalana karjääris [Magistritöö; juhendaja: O. Tinn]. pp. 1-59. Tartu Ülikool.

Hints, O. 2008. Kaljoprion - a new enigmatic jawed polychaete genus from the Upper Ordovician of Estonia. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 57, 4, 256-259. DOI:10.3176/earth.2008.4.05

Rubel, M., Hints, O., Männik, P., Meidla, T., Nestor, V., Sarv, L., Sibul, I. 2007. Lower Silurian biostratigraphy of the Viirelaid core, western Estonia. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, 4, 193-204. DOI:10.3176/earth.2007.01

Hints, L., Hints, O., Nemliher, R., Nõlvak, J. 2007. Hulterstad brachiopods and associated faunas in the Vormsi Stage (Upper Ordovician, Katian) of the Lelle core, Central Estonia. Estonian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, 3, 131-142.

Hints, O., Eriksson, M. E. 2007. Diversification and biogeography of scolecodont-bearing polychaetes in the Ordovician. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 254, 1-2, 95-114. DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.02.029

Hints, O., Nõlvak, J. 2006. Early Ordovician scolecodonts and chitinozoans from Tallinn, North Estonia. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 139, 1-4, 189-209. DOI:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2006.01.004

Hints, O., Killing, M., Männik, P., Nestor, V. 2006. Frequency patterns of chitinozoans, scolecodonts, and conodonts in the upper Llandovery and lower Wenlock of the Paatsalu core, western Estonia. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 55, 2, 128-155. DOI:10.3176/GEOL.2006.2.04

Vinn, O. 2005. The tube ultrastructure of serpulids (Annelida, Polychahaeta) Pentaditrypa subtorquata, Cretaceous, and Nogrobs cf. vertebralis, Jurassic, from Germany. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 54, 4, 260-265. DOI:10.3176/geol.2005.4.03

Eriksson, M. 2001. Silurian Ramphoprionid polychaetes from Gotland, Sweden. Journal of Paleontology 75, 5, 993-1015. DOI:10.1017/S0022336000039901

Hints, O. 2000. Ordovician eunicid polychaetes of Estonia and surrounding areas: review of their distribution and diversification. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 113, 1-3, 41-55. DOI:10.1016/S0034-6667(00)00051-8

Hints, O. 1999. Two new polychaete families from the Upper Ordovician of Estonia. Palaeontology 42, 5, 897-906. DOI:10.1111/1475-4983.00101

Hints, O. 1998. Late Viruan (Ordovician) polychaete jaws from North Estonia and the St. Petersburg Region. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 43, 3, 471-516.

Eriksson, M. 1998. Dubichaetaspis bergmani gen. et sp. n., a facies controlled polychaete from the Silurian of Gotland, Sweden. GFF 120, 1, 21-25. DOI:10.1080/11035899801201021

Hints, O. 1998. Revision of the Ordovician and Silurian ramphoprionid polychaetes from Severnaya Zemlya, Russian Arctic. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 47, 2, 77-85. DOI:10.3176/GEOL.1998.2.02

Eriksson, M. 1997. Lower Silurian polychaetaspid polychaetes from Gotland, Sweden. GFF 119, 3, 213-230. DOI:10.1080/11035899709546480

Hints, O., Kallaste, T., Kiipli, T. 1997. Mineralogy and micropalaeontology of the Kinnekulle altered volcanic ash bed (Ordovician) at Pääsküla, North Estonia. Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Geology 46, 3, 107-118. DOI:10.3176/geol.1997.3.01

Adrain, J. M., Chatterton, B. D. E., Cocks, L. R. M. 1991. A new species of machaeridian from the Silurian of Podolia, USSR, with a review of the Turrilepadidae. Palaeontology 34, 3, 637–651.

Bergman, C. F. 1989. Silurian paulinitid polychaetes from Gotland. Fossils and Strata 25, 1-128.

Männil, Ralf, Zaslavskaya, N. 1985. Silurijskie polihety severa Sibiri. Transactions of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics 615, 98-119.

Zawidzka, K. 1975. Polychaete remains and their stratigraphic distribution in the Muschelkalk of Southern Poland. Acta Geologica Polonica 25, 2, 257-274.

Boyer, P. S. 1975. Polychaete jaw apparatuses from the Devonian of central Ohio. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 20, 2, 425-435.

Eisenack, A. 1970. Mikrofossilien aus dem Silur Estlands und der Insel Ösel. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandlingar 92, 302-322. DOI:10.1080/11035897.1970.9626410

Eisenack, A. 1968. Microfossilien eines Geschiebes der Borkholmer Stufe, baltisches Ordovizium, F2. Mitt. Geol. Staatinst. Hamburg 37, 81-94.

Öpik, A. 1927. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Kukruse-(C2-) Stufe in Eesti. II. Tartu Ülikooli Geoloogia Instituudi Toimetused 10, 1-35.

List of species

1. Atraktoprion cornutus Kielan-Jaworowska, 1962

2. Atraktoprion major Kielan-Jaworowska, 1966

3. Atraktoprion mirabilis Kielan-Jaworowska, 1966

4. Baltichaeta jormunganda Slater, Harvey, Guilbaud et Butterfield, 2017 | Lower Cambrian (old nomenclature)

5. Conjungaspis minutus Hints, 1999 | Ordovician→Silurian

6. Cryptosiphon oboloides Vinn, et al, 2025 | Furongian

7. Dubichaetaspis bergmani Eriksson, 1998

8. Estonioprion maennili Hints, 1998 | Haljala Stage→Keila Stage

9. Eunicites ala Öpik, 1927 | Kukruse Stage

10. Eunicites bekkeri Öpik, 1927 | Kukruse Stage

11. Euryprion rarus Kielan-Jaworowska, 1966

12. Gotlandites slitensis Bergman, 1987 | Wenlock

13. Hadoprion cervicornis (Hinde, 1879)

14. Hindenites angustus (Hinde, 1882) | Wenlock

15. Hindenites gladiatus (Kielan-Jaworowska, 1966)

16. Hindenites naerensis Bergman, 1987

17. Incisiprion edentulus Hints, 1998 | Keila Stage

18. Incisiprion incisus (Kielan-Jaworowska, 1966) | Kukruse Stage→Keila Stage

19. Kadriorgaspis kaisae Hints et Nõlvak, 2006 | Tremadocian

20. Kaljoprion laevaensis Hints, 2008 | Nabala Stage

Classification

Organism group	Biota
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Agmata
	incertae sedis
	Annelida
Subphylum	Procoelomata
Class	Polychaeta
Genus	Baltichaeta
Phylum	Arthropoda
	Brachiopoda
	Bryozoa
	Chordata
	Cnidaria
	Echinodermata
	Hemichordata
	Mollusca
	Onychophora
	Pogonophora
	Porifera
	Priapulida
Subphylum	Lophotrochozoa
Class	Chitinozoa
Order	Hyolithelminthida