Out at Les Davis tonight and a worm caught my eye in the water column at about 20', during my safety stop. I have seen many worms before, but when I downloaded this one the colors and "hairs" extending from it were something I had never seen. I wish I would have taken a couple more photos. Any idea what kind of worm this is?
ID on this brightly colored worm...
- Scubie Doo
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Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
Wow -- that's wild! Can't wait to see what the experts have to say.
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
I have not a clue, but that is one badass picture.
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Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
You always see crazy stuff hanging out for deco/safety stops! Awesome!
Kirsten
Kirsten
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Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
I am wondering if my strobe hit it is a certain way to show the colors. It is an interesting one for sure.
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Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
Hi Jesse,
It would take a lot more information to come up with a species or even genus I.D. on your worm.
Having said that, it's almost certainly an epitoke (reproductive stage) from an errant polychaete. Here are a couple of threads where epitokes have been discussed:
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=10767
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16572
The color is probably iridescense from your strobes and is typical of Nerieds (clam worms) and some others.
Speculatively yours,
Alex
It would take a lot more information to come up with a species or even genus I.D. on your worm.
Having said that, it's almost certainly an epitoke (reproductive stage) from an errant polychaete. Here are a couple of threads where epitokes have been discussed:
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=10767
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16572
The color is probably iridescense from your strobes and is typical of Nerieds (clam worms) and some others.
Speculatively yours,
Alex
Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
Cool! Thanks, Alex!
"Sometimes, when your world is going sideways, the second best thing to everything working out right, is knowing you are loved..." ljjames
- Scubie Doo
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Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
Alex, thanks for the write-ups and links. I appreciate it.
Re: ID on this brightly colored worm...
Hi everyone -
Greg Jensen was at the museum yesterday & diplomatically reminded me that I was a flake for not showing up here more often.
So....
Not really an epitoke, just an egg-filled polychaete in the family Cirratulidae. Epitokes usually have distinct modifications of the body. This one doesn't. The colors are intensified by the lights & altered a bit - that blue is definitely an effect of the lights - but otherwise natural.
Many of the so-called sedentariates also swim into the water to spawn.
Cheers, Leslie
Greg Jensen was at the museum yesterday & diplomatically reminded me that I was a flake for not showing up here more often.
So....
Not really an epitoke, just an egg-filled polychaete in the family Cirratulidae. Epitokes usually have distinct modifications of the body. This one doesn't. The colors are intensified by the lights & altered a bit - that blue is definitely an effect of the lights - but otherwise natural.
Many of the so-called sedentariates also swim into the water to spawn.
Cheers, Leslie