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Eerie flatworm
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 2:58 pm
by dscuba
Last Sunday I saw a pretty creepy looking flat worm (I think) at Redondo. It was tan or pink, around 12-15 inches long, 1-inch wide, had a definite flattening to it, and was very smooth with clean straight lines (no ruffles/frills). It looked like a long tongue. When prodded it would swim up in the water a few feet then drift back down.
I like to know the names what I come across, so are there any websites with good pictures of worms found around here that I could look it up in?
Re: Eerie flatworm
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 3:13 pm
by dscuba
It looked pretty much like this
From:
http://sst2011-s202sci.blogspot.com/201 ... tworm.html
Anyone know the name?
Re: Eerie flatworm
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 4:05 pm
by Greg Jensen
It's actually a big nemertean or ribbon worm- Cerebratulus californiensis.
Re: Eerie flatworm
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 5:10 pm
by Desert Diver
dscuba wrote:Last Sunday I saw a pretty creepy looking flat worm (I think) at Redondo. It was tan or pink, around 12-15 inches long, 1-inch wide, had a definite flattening to it, and was very smooth with clean straight lines (no ruffles/frills). It looked like a long tongue. When prodded it would swim up in the water a few feet then drift back down.
I like to know the names what I come across, so are there any websites with good pictures of worms found around here that I could look it up in?
You touched something underwater? tsk tsk
Re: Eerie flatworm
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 11:13 pm
by Dusty2
Desert Diver wrote:You touched something underwater? tsk tsk
I'm sure it was in the name of science!
Re: Eerie flatworm
Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:55 pm
by dscuba
At first it looked like the innards from some clam... So yes, in the name of science (or poking dead things).
Re: Eerie flatworm
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:21 am
by Tidepool Geek
Greetings,
Here's a fun article from Ron Shimek on ribbon worms in general and cerebratulids like this in particular:
http://www.reef2rainforest.com/2013/05/ ... emertinea/
Note that the article has a photo of a worm virtually identical to the one shown in this thread.
Vermiculturally yours,
Alex