What the?

[Reefbound]

My tank has been up since Aug 05 and I thoght I have seen it all,Until this showed up... What kind of worm is this?

 

[mfinn]

Looks like a big bristle worm.

 

[Reefbound]

Looks like a big bristle worm.

but the legs are very different,their not bristles they look like a centipedes legs... And on the head you can see two black eyes.

 

[mfinn]

Oh ok, did know there was a head to go with the leg.
Are there more legs ?

 

[Reefbound]

Oh ok, did know there was a head to go with the leg.
Are there more legs ?

I dont know how long it is but here is a closer shot.If you look at the tip of the head you can see the eyes.



Mods, Maybe this could be move to the Identify this section?

 

[nano_reeflover]

My bristle worms have eyes

 

[brady816]

i have the same thing in my tank. he is at least a foot long or longer. he only comes out at night with the lights out.

 

[steve-s]

Not a worm....
http://www.petsolutions.com/404.asp...t.asp_Q_pn_E_176760L_A_Yellow+Brittle+Star_E_

Cheers
Steve

 

[Herefishyfishy]

I have a large (green or yellow star) Ophiarachna incrassata in my reef, and the legs are thicker and more tapered. Very fast mover and agressive feeder though seems safe. I suspect the pic is of a bristle worm.

 

[Reefbound]

Not a worm....
http://www.petsolutions.com/404.asp...t.asp_Q_pn_E_176760L_A_Yellow+Brittle+Star_E_

Cheers
Steve

Normally I would not question your posts but, In this case if that were a star then that leg has mouth at the end of it that opened and started to munch on a dead snail. I did witness that and you can definitely see two eyes .

 

[steve-s]

has mouth at the end of it that opened and started to munch on a dead snail. I did witness that and you can definitely see two eyes .

If the one end indeed has a mouth and eye's it's not a star.

Why not conatct Leslie Harris (collection manager), she's pretty accurate at this...
http://www.nhm.org/research/annelida/index.html

Cheers
Steve

 

[NaH2O]

This link, also from the same website Steve posted, may help out, as well. Polychaete Identification. Click on Family Key, then answer the questions. If you are unsure what the question is referring to, you can also click on the question and it will link you to examples. You could probably send Leslie (the person Steve is referring to) a link to this thread, she is LeslieH on RF.

 

[LeslieH]

Hi guys -- Well, it's a bristle worm in the scientific sense because all polychaetes are bristle worms. The name polychaete is a combination of 2 latin words that mean many bristles. I know reefers normally only use the term for animals like Eurythoe complanata & Hermodice carunculata which all belong to the family Amphinomidae. This one is in the family Oenonidae & called Oenone fulgida, AKA "Snail Killer". Don't let the name fool you - it's also very fond of clams and will eat detritus & other stuff if no molluscs are around. Unlike the amphinomids which have big clumps of white bristles used for defense this guy & it's relatives have much smaller bristles which aren't visible without a magnifying glass. The parts that look like centipede legs are fleshy appendages.

The Polychaete Identification key Nikki posted looks pretty good. I don't know how well it would work if you can't examine the worm under a magnifying glass or scope because a lot of the characters are internal or very small. It has a separate page for Oenone fulgida at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/taxinfo/browse/genera/oenone.htm

 

[Curtswearing]

Awesome

It's great to see you here Leslie!!! You always have a wealth of knowledge on this subject.

WELCOME TO REEF FRONTIERS!!!

 

[Reefbound]

LeslieH, Thank you for your response.
As for the term "Snail Killer" So far I have just seen him be a scavenger with the dead ones... Other than that I dont see it come out of its hole...

 

[Boomer]

Here is more on them

The Large Worm Turns…
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.php

 

[LeslieH]

LeslieH, Thank you for your response.
As for the term "Snail Killer" So far I have just seen him be a scavenger with the dead ones... Other than that I dont see it come out of its hole...

Thanks, Curt. I come around occasionally when I have time.

They dislike coming completely out of their holes. Many inverts are thigmotaxic - they're hard-wired to want their bodies touching something on all sides. Small mammals such as rats are the same.

We don't know much about the diet of most inverts but this one is well documented to prefer molluscs above anything else. I don't think it's known if they mostly prey on sick ones and only go after healthy ones if there's nothing else or if any mollusc will do. They cover their prey with a thick layer of slime. Why? Don't know. Could be the slime is toxic, or suffocates the prey, or is so disgusting no other invert will try to eat it before the worm can. They've been seen feeding on giant clams but again, it's not known if the clams were healthy & sick.

I like worms so I'd keep it. It does help keep tanks clean even if it does like to eat other members of the clean up crew.

 

[Reefbound]

Even if I wanted him out I dont think I could catch him as he is lightning fast...The one statement you made about the slime makes sense now because once in a while I will find what I call slime sacs where an empty shell is laying...Very interesting.
As long as he keeps cleaning up the deceased he will be welcomed If not,
I guess He will get a new home in the refugium...

 

[nano_reeflover]

Thats odd, I've had a bunch of snails turn up dead with the same thing. Didn't know it was a worm.

 

[Aquatic Guru]

Ask the Sixline to eat it?