ID needed for worm(?)

Hi Leslie,

I found this under a rock in about 25 feet of water off the Island of Bimini. I thought it was a flatworm until I saw the photos and saw that it had an opening on top. It was about 8-10mm in size. At times the "hole" was closed, or retracted, and sometimes it was open.

Can you tell me what it is?

Thanks again, Anne

I suspect it's a polychaete scale worm but I can't tell from the image. Would you mind sending me a high-res file so I can check for details?

Your desctiption fits a scaleworm. Many absorb their oxygen from water flowing under the dorsal scales. To keep the water moving they pump it by rhythmically expanding & contracting the scales while raising several of the posterior scales to form a siphon.

I suspect it's a polychaete scale worm but I can't tell from the image. Would you mind sending me a high-res file so I can check for details?

 

Your desctiption fits a scaleworm. Many absorb their oxygen from water flowing under the dorsal scales. To keep the water moving they pump it by rhythmically expanding & contracting the scales while raising several of the posterior scales to form a siphon.

Thanks Leslie, I'll send you a couple more...

thanks, Anne. I look forward to seeing them.

I just thought of something else. It might be the mantle & siphon of a clam which is embedded in the bottom. clams are filter-feeders which pump water in and out through their siphons.

thanks, Anne. I look forward to seeing them.

 

I just thought of something else. It might be the mantle & siphon of a clam which is embedded in the bottom. clams are filter-feeders which pump water in and out through their siphons.

Leslie, I think it might be a clam, the animal did not move. Here a couple of more photos showing the siphon...

Anne

Leslie, I think it might be a clam, the animal did not move. Here a couple of more photos showing the siphon...

Anne

Another photo

Yup, definitely a clam and outside my experience. Perhaps another WP member can help with an id?