Cool find on the beach.

[Lunabud74]

Came across this creature on my 5 mile beach walk this morning. Used a couple of clam shells to scoop up and toss this guy back in the gulf. And I'm curious as to what he was. Any ideas?

 

[cloak]

An Isopod of some sort would be my guess.

 

[Lunabud74]

Very large clam shells I might add. He was 4-5" long

 

[Lunabud74]

I don't think he's an isopod. I didn't touch him, but the pink was definitely soft and not hard like a shell.

 

[Lunabud74]

It reminds me of a bristle worm, but huge. Maybe 1.5" wide.

 

[RayAllen3422]

It does look like a bristle worm to me as well.

 

[cloak]

Is that black thing it's eye? (bottom right hand side)

 

[Lunabud74]

It had no eyes that I could see.

 

[Calappidae]

I see them, reminds me of a daddy longleg's eyes.

I'd say bristleworm but the bottom of it doesn't look wormy... What was it like moving?

 

[Betta132]

My vote would be on very large bristleworm, possibly fireworm. If you find another one, maybe put it in a bucket of water to photograph it so it'll stretch out and we can get a better look?

 

[Lunabud74]

It had a hairy bottom side. When it was in the water, it kinda curled up into a wheel with the bristles on the outside and soft parts inside. I think that was a defense pose as I couldn't get it too far past the surf because I was trying not to let it touch me at the same time.