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View Full Version : possible bristle worm or fire worm

kenko
10/30/2008, 12:10 AM
I found this guy roaming round the base of my rock. I thought I saw him several months ago climbing all over the rock, but was unsure. Does anybody know if this is a fire worm or not. I did get a sting when I grabbed it with my fingers. What if anything can it do to my coral? I've looked all over the place but not exactly sure if it is a fire worm (Hermodice carunculata). see pics below

Thanks
Karl

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/166485P1030121-med.JPG
The Whole worm


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/166485P1030123-med.JPG
just the head of the worm
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/166485P1030135-med.JPG
The head half of the worm

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/166485P1030140-med.jpg

better head pic
palawan
10/30/2008, 12:15 AM
Can't tell if it has tufts of bristles coming from the sides. If it has the tufts coming from the sides then you should have gotton stung it would be some sort of fireworm. To me it looks like a Eunicid worm but they only come out at night. Eunicid worms look like a millipede. Might be somekind or bristleworm.
kenko
10/30/2008, 12:26 AM
I added a better pic of the bristles.
ludnix
10/30/2008, 12:54 AM
Can you take a picture with the worm submerged in water?
kenko
10/30/2008, 01:03 AM
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/166485P1030112-med.JPG

Best pic of worm in water
str8clownr
10/30/2008, 01:09 AM
looks like a bristle to me...
greenbean36191
10/30/2008, 06:18 AM
Yes, it is a bristleworm and a fireworm. However, it is not Hermodice. It's just a harmless scavenger.
kenko
10/30/2008, 11:19 AM
According to the pictures on this site I think It is a Hesionidae Leocrates sp..
I have been looking at many site pictures and these are by far the best. my worm looks almost exactly like the one on the site especially with a magnifying glass.
MileHighFish
10/30/2008, 11:48 AM
your brave i dont think i would have grabbed that with my hands..lol
kenko
10/30/2008, 01:27 PM
I had to be quick and really was not thinking. I have not had one before that I know of. I did feel a little sting/burning in my finger.
greenbean36191
10/30/2008, 07:22 PM
Nope, it's not a hesionid, it's just a typical amphinomid- aka fireworm.
kenko
10/31/2008, 03:38 AM
greenbean,
are you sure? I don't want to put this back in if it will feast on my reef. Like I said above I had never seen one before and I know it had to be in there a while to get this big. I have lost a few inhabitants over the past months and when I found this.....

Thanks.
tsouth
10/31/2008, 04:44 AM
Psh better to be safe than sorry. I'd keep it out. It's not like there's probably a few more in there anyways.
greenbean36191
10/31/2008, 07:06 AM
Yes, I'm sure. This worm may be responsible for the disappearance of your inhabitants, but it is definitely not responsible for their deaths.