- 3Posts
- 3Replies
Read-only discussion
Who am I, part 2
-
-
That's a polychaete - a type of worm. Polychaete means many bristles. Some people call them bristleworms.
I have no idea what species.
-
That's the bearded fireworm Hermodice carunculata. These big showy worms are loaded with defensive weapons which is why they can be out & around in the open during the day. The upper set of setae (bristles) on these guys are harpoon-shaped with multiple backward-pointing barbs, made of glass & very brittle. They easily break off & embed themselves in a predator's skin, releasing a toxin that accounts for the name fireworm.