CHECK THIS OUT! Here is a rare find (I think) for all your invert lovers, PICS!!

[Helfrichs Chic]

I posted this in my local club forum, and a friend said that the invert forum would like to see it. Its amazing.
I have seen lots of weird stuff in my days but I found this guy cruising around on a zoa colony. Medusa Worm? Not sure if I should put it back in the tank or not, but its really pretty! I accidently cut him in 1/2 getting him off the rock, the other 1/2 is still moving around 30 min later. Weird for SURE! Anyone know what it could be? It has an orange body, with blue/purple markings and head parts. Its about 3/4 inch when stretched out. Still amazes me what you can find in you aquarium.

I assume Polychaete of some sort. Its beautiful, but still on the fence about keeping it, as I also learned that the segments at the end that get larger are babies. Opinions?

 

[Grins]

Have no clue but intriguing find.

 

[sps_addict]

dang!! that is sweet looking whatever it is. LeslieH will probably have an idea of what it is.

 

[LeslieH]

It is a polychaete, family Syllidae, subfamily Autolytinae, and possibly genus Myrianida. I have a picture of a very similar one called Myrianida pachycera on my museum's website http://www.nhm.org/research/annelida/ M. pachycera has been found Australia, Japan, Hawaii, and in harbors of southern California and are usually found on the sponges they eat.

You're right about the babies. The anterior end is the parent that is producing clones called stolons. When the stolons get large enough they will detach from the parent & crawl away. Members of the subfamily Autolytinae feed by piercing the body wall of their prey - sponges, hydroids, bryozoans - with a ring of sharp teeth then sucking out the contents. You don't have to worry about your zoanthids or corals with this guy.

Which westside are you on? Southern california by any chance? I'd love to have this worm if you don't want it.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

I would like to have this worm also maybe it would get rid of all the hydroids in all my tanks and the little white sponges grown on the live rock. Not only that.. it is really cool looking.

 

[Helfrichs Chic]

Leslie THANK YOU! I was waiting for you to post with an ID, everyone had mentioned your the one to talk about Polychaets with lol. I have since put him back into my tank. He didnt seem to be doing any damage in the first place and I didnt want to kill him. I wonder, I got some pom pom looking hydroids on a frag about 4 months ago, I havent been noticing them reproducing as fast as one would expect, and I wonder of this pretty guy is eating them. Well I have tons of sponges, and natural food sources for him, and really excited to get an answer on compatability in my reef.

I am in Phoenix Arizona, and Leslie, if I see him again, or see any babies I will get in touch with you and send them to you.
Thanks again!

 

[sps_addict]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10667052#post10667052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeslieH
It is a polychaete, family Syllidae, subfamily Autolytinae, and possibly genus Myrianida. I have a picture of a very similar one called Myrianida pachycera on my museum's website http://www.nhm.org/research/annelida/ M. pachycera has been found Australia, Japan, Hawaii, and in harbors of southern California and are usually found on the sponges they eat.

You're right about the babies. The anterior end is the parent that is producing clones called stolons. When the stolons get large enough they will detach from the parent & crawl away. Members of the subfamily Autolytinae feed by piercing the body wall of their prey - sponges, hydroids, bryozoans - with a ring of sharp teeth then sucking out the contents. You don't have to worry about your zoanthids or corals with this guy.

Which westside are you on? Southern california by any chance? I'd love to have this worm if you don't want it.

what!? eats sponges and hydroids!!! i want one too! I don't get anything cool in my LR / LS. I only get Eunice worms (pain in the rear) and Bristtle Worms. Nice find Helfrich's Chic

 

[LeslieH]

Many syllids seem to have very specific diets and only eat one or two things. That's especially true for autolyinae species. To know for sure what this one eats I'd have to have the worm to identify it then do a literature search to see if anyone's reported what it feeds on. And then be frustrated when I find out that no one knows.