What is this little guy?

[GhostCon1]

Was on an image board and came across this pic, I know (well, I think the nem is a Haitian Pink Tip, but what is the little guy on the nem?

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

looks like the head of a worm

 

[LeslieH]

Oooo, I like that . A polychaete worm in the family Nereididae, possibly genus Ceratocephale. Probably an epitoke which was caught by the anemone.

Which board were you on?

 

[GhostCon1]

It was a random image board, not marine related

And whoa... going to have to look up have of what you said, I only understood the polychaete part lol

 

[LeslieH]

:lmao:

Epitokes = sexually mature individuals of some species of polychaetes. The normal eyes get bigger, the feet along the whole body enlarge to become more efficient at swimming, the bristles drop out & are replaced by paddle-shaped ones, and the body fills up with either eggs or sperm. At some point, due either to a light cue (full moon) or a chemical cue put out by members of the same species, the epitokes swim up into the water. They shed the the eggs & sperm which meet for fertilization in the water. Depending on the species the epitokes will either die or swim back down to the bottom. Meanwhile, fish, crustaceans, corals, anemones, etc., are all having a grand feast.

 

[GhostCon1]

The more you know!

Thanks!