ID needed for unidentified rockpool worm.

Yashca · #1 (**permalink**) 13-10-2009, 11:06 AM

This was found at Robin Hoods Bay last year. A very nice picture taken by a friend of mine, but I haven't managed to identify it myself. Help would be appreciated.

Merrow · #2 (**permalink**) 13-10-2009, 05:17 PM

Looks a bit like a sea mouse (Aphrodite aculeata)? I've never actually seen one though; sorry I'm not that much help. It's a fab photo.

Force Eleven · #3 (**permalink**) 13-10-2009, 09:12 PM

Hi! I can rule out sea mouse. I've seen one at Millport in 2008 and they looks different to this. Thanks for attempting though!

Anyone?

Merrow · #4 (**permalink**) 14-10-2009, 01:04 PM

Ah thanks Force 11, it was a pure guess going by the hairy bits

Merrow · #5 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 12:56 PM

I've asked a biologist friend and he says ''Looks like a sea mouse, Aprodite, to me, there's not much else it could be. They look best underwater, irridescent colours.''

charlieb · #6 (**permalink**) 15-10-2009, 12:59 PM

I think it might be the wrong way up

zan · #7 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 03:35 PM

I'm afraid I don't know what it is, but it's not a sea mouse. The dorsal surface of a sea mouse is covered in fur, and teh ventral side is very obviously segmented (more so than this one), but doesn't have those roundish 'scales' that are present here. What size was it?

Force Eleven · #8 (**permalink**) 23-10-2009, 10:48 AM

40mm roughly, so not very big. That makes it more difficult if anything.

Lance Morgan · #9 (**permalink**) 23-10-2009, 10:56 AM

I'd say immature sea mouse. Not much else it could be imo.

zan · #10 (**permalink**) 23-10-2009, 10:59 AM

cool, you'd expect a sea mouse to be a fair bit bigger than 4cm long (usually). What you'd really need to do is sit down with the worm (you can keep it in a tub of water so it doesn't die) and a good ID book and look at it up close - ID from a photo with species like this is generally really difficult.