Unusual/Uncommon Worm ID needed

DownTownReefer · Jan 24, 2022

While cleaning the sand this one inch fast moving, twitchy, shiny transparent work popped up. Haven't seen any pic of a similar worm anywhere. Not a bristle, fire, or spaghetti work Good or bad?

JaimeAdams · Jan 25, 2022

No clue, but that one is different.

GillMeister · Jan 25, 2022

That is not like anything I've ever seen. I'll be VERY curious to see if anyone ID's it.

Eagle_Steve · Jan 25, 2022

@KJ may be able to ID.

DownTownReefer · Jan 25, 2022

Tank has been fishless for 2 months. Here's a head shot.

Karen00 · Jan 25, 2022

DownTownReefer said:
Tank has been fishless for 2 months. Here's a head shot.

Tremors II right there! I don't understand how ocean creatures keep getting creepier!

Are those legs coming out of it or hooks to latch onto something?

chandavi · Jan 25, 2022

Yikes!!.?!!
No idea but prob won’t sleep as well tonight as I might have.....
Have never seen anything like it.

Chrisv. · Jan 25, 2022

Ugh! Kill it with fire!

GillMeister · Jan 26, 2022

I suggest putting it in your ear. If it burrows through and wraps around your brain stem, thereby taking control of your body, you will know it's parasitic and you should keep them out of your tank.

Sean Clark · Jan 26, 2022

I am never going in the ocean again.

Labridaedicted · Jan 26, 2022

Oooh! This one's gonna require some digging. Give me a bit and I'll get ya an ID

Labridaedicted · Jan 26, 2022

Ok, I'm fairly certain it is from the Polydora genus. Still working on species

Labridaedicted · Jan 26, 2022

I may be wrong, but based on the presence of appendages, it appears to be annelid despite its smooth appearance. And the apparent absence of spines makes me think tube or boring species. Based on the the length of the appendages I'm inclined to believe a boring species of the Polydora genus. I'm not 100% sure on this.

That being said, maybe check out Polydora websteri and see if thay maybe fits the bill?

I'll see if I can find more time to dig later today if no one else hops on here. My worm ID is pretty rusty.

mtfish · Jan 26, 2022

Try looking at the Genus Armandia. This would be in the family Opheliidae

GillMeister · Jan 26, 2022

mtfish said:
Try looking at the Genus Armandia. This would be in the family Opheliidae

The images look similar, don't they? It seems as though it's a sand dwelling worm that eats detritus and might be reef safe.

mtfish · Jan 26, 2022

It is impossible to get these down to species without scope work. There was another Genus (Ophelina), but I do not think it is as good a match. Either way, I would keep it!