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I would like to take a moment of your time to tell you why words are bloomin amazing. Please and thank you!
I was a skeptic when it came to admiring worms... aren’t we all
I don’t mind things that wiggly, are slimy...but marine worms just seemed tedious, boring creatures..
I was a skeptic when it came to admiring worms... aren’t we all
I don’t mind things that wiggly, are slimy...but marine worms just seemed tedious, boring creatures..
Worms you have my whole hearted apology... in the ignorance of my youth I judged you too soon!
So I go rockpooling A LOT! I’m trying to find and photograph as many species as possible... but over time I of course come across less and less new species the more I find.
Except...
So I go rockpooling A LOT! I’m trying to find and photograph as many species as possible... but over time I of course come across less and less new species the more I find.
Except...
When it comes to marine worm - oh my I just keep finding more. AND EVEN BETTER...they just keep getting weirder 
So let’s discuss their awesomeness now...
#marineinverts #scicomm #marinebiology #wormwednesday
So let’s discuss their awesomeness now...
#marineinverts #scicomm #marinebiology #wormwednesday
Let me start off with the cool ol’classic lug worm! These are the worms that leave sand casts, a similar shape to well 
.. anyway.
Now I’m also a fisherwoman at heart, so I grew up holding these! What’s super cool though are that these worm STAIN YOUR HANDS YELLOW!
.. anyway.Now I’m also a fisherwoman at heart, so I grew up holding these! What’s super cool though are that these worm STAIN YOUR HANDS YELLOW!
But compared to a lugworm look at this fluffy little wiggle bums.. scale worms! These can come in a variety of colours, and are bloomin gorgeous and far better on video... watch this for some great scale worm action - even swimming!
Here is an even CUTER WORM... I know I know hard to imagine.
This is a flat worm, a really special find! They can come in a variety of patterns... even neon colours! Check out footage from my global rockpooling species -
But LOOK AT HIS LITTLE EYES
This is a flat worm, a really special find! They can come in a variety of patterns... even neon colours! Check out footage from my global rockpooling species -
But LOOK AT HIS LITTLE EYES
Oh look here’s some shells.
NOPE. WORMS.
These are two species of worms, the little spirals and the larger ones are different, but both form calcium carbonate skeletons to protect themselves! And oh boy they are sharp... you’ve likely cut you hands on one rockpooling ...
NOPE. WORMS.
These are two species of worms, the little spirals and the larger ones are different, but both form calcium carbonate skeletons to protect themselves! And oh boy they are sharp... you’ve likely cut you hands on one rockpooling ...
But in the inside they are all soft, squidgy, and GORGEOUS! A rare sight to see one feeding but when you do you can’t believe such a delicate little flowery worm lives in that tube!
Speaking of gorgeous worms - Eupolymnia nebulosa, it’s so gorgeous, I couldn’t help but paint it!
See footage of it’s long, winding, bright orange tentacles here -
See footage of it’s long, winding, bright orange tentacles here -
Green blobs. Must be aliens?
Yep, you guessed right.
No I’m kidding.. it’s *drumroll*... worms.
This huge blob, is a eggs sac of a green leaf worm... now I say huge because I was lucky enough to watch them being laid...
And....
Yep, you guessed right.
No I’m kidding.. it’s *drumroll*... worms.
This huge blob, is a eggs sac of a green leaf worm... now I say huge because I was lucky enough to watch them being laid...
And....
LOOK HOW SMOL THE LITTLE WORM IS compared to the eggs! It has to work so hard to lay them!
Anyone fancy an ice cream? Me too!
Oh look it’s an ice-cream cone... or is it an ice cream cone worm?!
You bet it it’s a worm... these amazing perfectly formed from one layer of sand... watch rockpooling video here for cool footage ().
The worm is..
Oh look it’s an ice-cream cone... or is it an ice cream cone worm?!
You bet it it’s a worm... these amazing perfectly formed from one layer of sand... watch rockpooling video here for cool footage ().
The worm is..
This fella! His name Pectinariidae, and he lives on the sandy shore. Fitting place for an ice-cream worm really!
He uses large bristles on his face, to burrow and sort out the nutrients and tasty bits of sand whilst he goes! You could say, SAND-wiches are his favourite food..
He uses large bristles on his face, to burrow and sort out the nutrients and tasty bits of sand whilst he goes! You could say, SAND-wiches are his favourite food..
Lastly... this is Sabilleria! A reef forming worm, that forms vast reefs similar shape and size to coral reefs! This is an ecosystem engineer providing a stable habitat for many species to live - it’s so special is a protected species!
One worm =whole ecosystem!
One worm =whole ecosystem!
So there you have it! From worms being a long tube blob, to forming reefs, cutting fingers and forming gorgeous perfectly formed stain glass structures out of sand!
I hope you give marine worms a chance, and keep an eye out for them!
I hope you give marine worms a chance, and keep an eye out for them!
This tweet was part of @marinemumbles takeover of #invertefest... if you want to ask more questions after the takeover please tweet my personal account of head over to my YT channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRDsYk5kU1mHCksjedQQ1mA
