Worm ID?

I took this photo thinking *someone* might like to see this worm I found on a soft coral at Layang Layang

Most of the body ...

The forward end ...

The back end ...

Appology as the images are a bit noisy, especially in the shadows

Leander

Leander, BABY!! Hubba-hubba!! The next drink of your choice is my treat. Sweet momma that's gorgeous.

Syllidae, not sure of the subfamily. Now for the depressing part..... I'll never know what is it without a specimen..... sniff, sniff.... How can you bear to tease me like this?

(Thanks kid - it really is a treat to see )

By the way, I think you've got the ends reversed. See the white/purple spot in the middle of the "rear end"? That looks like amedian antenna which makes it the head head. Worms can move backwards as easily as they can forwards so it's easy to get fooled.

*grin* thought you'd like it!

Not enough no-deco time to get anymore than a few ID shots for you ... a beautiful critter though with the shape and colours Sorry to break your heart, but no pickled worms

By the way, I think you've got the ends reversed. See the white/purple spot in the middle of the "rear end"? That looks like amedian antenna which makes it the head head. Worms can move backwards as easily as they can forwards so it's easy to get fooled.

Well the bit in the second pic was definitely the forward end - but I make absolutely no claims about it being the head!! Thanks for the info though

BTW, if you are still after suspected Lanice specimens drop me a PM.

cheers

Leander

Leander - I was sorting through my reprints & lo and behold this worm - Alcyonosyllis phili - jumped out at me. It was a real DOH! moment because I read this paper when it first came out. The worm has been found on nephteid corals & gorgonians in NW, N, and E Australia & Papua New Guinea. Fortunately the paper is available on the web at http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/publications/mu...aglev17_p43.pdf

There are two color pics of the live worm in the paper but neither show the beautiful bluish-purple spots as well as yours.

PS - Still interested, just lazy.....