Bristle Worm? I think so

[Abide]

Caught this guy burrowing under the sand up against the glass at 3 AM one morning, He's prolly about 8-9in long, thats my Arrow in the background for comparison. It was fairly thin but didnt look quite as hairy as most of the pics ive seen. I wish i would have gotten an up clsoe in focus pic of his head. As soon as it saw the flash though it was gone, backwards right through its tunnel.

Is this something to be worried about or should i leave it?

 

[LeslieH]

If you mean is this a polychaete? - it is. If you mean is this an amphinomid like Eurythoe complanata or Hermodice carunculata? - it isn't. At that size & shape it's probably an eunicid or an oenonidae. Have any snails or clams been mysterious dying lately?

 

[Abide]

actually alot of the tiny clams that were hitchhikers i guess, i've never seen them but i always see crabs picking at their shells. I dont have anything big and beautiful like those Maximas. Not really on the snails besides a bunch that just didnt really survive shipping, like that margarita being cleaned up in the background. So im guessing either way it would be wise to remove it if i see it again?


here is that pic cropped at almost full quality, darn that photopucket.

 

[LeslieH]

Thanks for the crop - it's definitely not an amphinomid. Species of Eunice have 5 cylindrical antennae on the head. Oenonids have none, just a rounded & flattened head. If you do a search here on RC you'll find many pictures of both. Eunicids may or may not be predators depending on the species & size. The preferred prey items for oenoids are snails & clams but they will eat other things. I like worms so I would keep them. You may prefer your other critters in which case go ahead & yank it. That may require using bait in a glass jar to lure it out.