Name that worm

[bossreef]

Anyone know if this worm is good or bad? Should I keep it or toss it? It is about an inch long and twice the width of a regular bristle worm.

Thanks

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[LeslieH]

It's the posterior half of a scale worm, a polychaete in the family Polynoidae. These are micro-predators on other worms & small crustaceans & will eat detritus if nothing else is around but without a head this piece won't be eating anything.

 

[bossreef]

I wonder where its head went. Can they re-grow heads?

 

[LeslieH]

Probably into someone else's mouth or it self-fragmented just like a lizard losing its tail.

Yes, but the ability varies by species. In some, it will regrow only if the tear is within a certain anterior section of the body. Some species of cirratulids (hair worms) can fragment into tiny pieces & each piece will regrow the missing parts. That's why they can spread so rapidly in tanks.

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

Probably into someone else's mouth or it self-fragmented just like a lizard losing its tail.

Yes, but the ability varies by species. In some, it will regrow only if the tear is within a certain anterior section of the body. Some species of cirratulids (hair worms) can fragment into tiny pieces & each piece will regrow the missing parts. That's why they can spread so rapidly in tanks.

Sometimes you can know too much about worms. It's actually possible :rollface:

 

[LeslieH]

Sometimes you can know too much about worms. It's actually possible :rollface:

That's like saying you can know too much about shrimp. :lol:

 

[Bongo Shrimp]

That's like saying you can know too much about shrimp. :lol:

Well I can safely say that I have never taken any shrimp ID classes before...

 

[spieszak]

There are worm ID classes? I was just going to ask how someone gets to the point of being "accused" of knowing too much about worms?

 

[LeslieH]

There are worm ID classes? I was just going to ask how someone gets to the point of being "accused" of knowing too much about worms?

Believe it or not there are worm classes. I just taught a short intro class in the US Virgin Islands about 6 weeks ago. :celeb3:

Shrimp classes too. I bet Bongo's just jealous 'cause I went to one in Panama & he didn't. ;D

 

[jokim]

i need one of those classes

 

[tunicateperson]

I think it might be a fireworm.

 

[LeslieH]

I think not. )