Viz at the south coast was bad last week, so I stuck to macro (=less water between the subject and the lens). In a particularly shallow pool, I noticed a couple of ‘subjects’; some tiny Mysis shrimp for example. I had a lucky shot of these with my old camera (see here), but could not get it right this time. Same for a tiny Polycera quadrilineata nudibranch. Then I noticed something bright red in the corner of my eye: a worm sticking out of its tube. It was so shallow that I had to remove my strobe from the tray and hold it in one hand. I believe this is a Serpula vermicularis (right next to it in the second photo is another species with a keeled tube). The red and white disc sticking out between the tentacles is the operculum used to close off the tube when the animal retracts (for instance, when you move your camera too close). Even the least exciting looking things on the shore become interesting and beautiful when you take a look up close! 
Tag Archives: worms
a most peculiar animal
The rock around Falmouth is very soft in places, and when turning over large stones, sometimes they break and reveal interesting things (I have posted previously about the high density of worms in rocks). I recently had another rock crumbling on Castle Beach and I noticed something unusual-looking slipping away in its burrow. A Sipuncula (‘peanut worms’) or Echiura (‘spoon worms’) I thought, something not featured in any old guide anyway, so I browsed David Fenwick’s aphotomarine site where I quickly found the suspect: the Spoon worm Thalassema neptuni. The Echiura are recognised as a separate Phylum in most books, but recent research has revealed that they are not as special as they look: they are actually ‘ordinary’ Annelid worms (see this Open Access paper):
The diversity of life within rocks is actually quite surprising. I have not taken a good look at all the types of worms yet, but this one stands out: a tiny Green leaf worm Eulalia viridis (looks like a sock puppet):
The boring bivalve Wrinkled rock borer Hiatella arctica (a juvenile):
And even a small Sea cucumber:
Perhaps I should make a list of all the species living in the rock. Finally, on the rock surface, I sighted a small Sea hare Aplysia punctata for the first time in Cornwall:
kelp on pebbles and worms in rocks
Last weekend I went to my local beach in Flushing for the last time this year. Although it was stormy and cold it was nice to have a little wander around. Loads of washed up seaweed mixed with fallen Oak leaves on the beach:
Some of the new kelp has settled on pebbles instead of on more solid rock and so were also washed ashore. Easy for ‘planting’ in the aquarium although these species grow a bit to big to fit in my tank:
The slate around here is full of worms, some impressive burrowing! I have no idea what type of annelid this is; definitely worth to try to take some macro photos of in the new year:
An Bollenessor 