A temperate worm for Leslie

My wife found this on a night dive in Lough Hyne (Ireland's only Marine Nature Reserve) - any suggestions as to what it might be? We think that its probably a nemertean, but we've seen nothing like it before. Size is something around 120~150mm long.

hi Paul - this is spooky! I spotted something similar in Loch Fyne today (though darker colour than yours). I was wondering about bootlace worm? I will post mine too.

Here are shots of the one I saw today:

I thought it might be a bootlace so would be great if someone could confirm or correct!

Hope you don't mind me hijacking your post, Paul. They do look similar except for colour. I don't know how long mine was as the other end was behind a boulder

Thanks for posting them. Bootlace worms, definitely, and out of my comfort zone both phyletically & geographically. This is a job for Nemertinator, the defender of truth, justice, and the nemertean way of life. I'll ask him to pop by.

Ta--

Cheers, Leslie!

Thanks Leslie. Loch Fyne is another excellent photo foraging location Elaine - keep a look out for Diminutive Gobies - a friend has photographed a female at St Catherines but we've not seen a male there as yet.

Hi Paul - the photos were at a St Catherine's site! I will have a look for the Diminutive Goby next time I'm there. You are right - St Caths has some great sites for bimbling around in the shallows. Positively teeming with life.

Looks like Jon must be away. that man gets more invites for field work than anyone I know. Hopefully he'll take a look once he's back from whatever fabulous place he's in now.

out of my comfort zone both phyletically & geographically

Out of my comfort zone physically! Yucky.

Cheers,

Marli

Marli

When my wife first saw it the orange worm was wrapped around a large prawn - we have no idea whether it had somehow caught the prawn or had found it already dead - and a prawn-eating, bright orange worm is just a little bit disconcerting it has to be said!