31 July 2006
Poisonous Bristleworm common in Mediterranean
by Roger onboard the Rainbow Warrior in the Mediterranean sea.
Large bristleworm Hermodice caranculata
©Greenpeace/Roger Grace
Bristleworms, or Polychaete worms, are very common in the sea, but you seldom see them. They are usually very tasty for fish so they hide away under rocks and in crevices. I was surprised to see a large juicy-looking bristleworm running around on open rock faces underwater, in many of the places we dived in the Mediterranean. It turns out that this worm is poisonous to fishes, and being brightly coloured the fish soon learn not to try to eat it. Bunches of white bristles stick out from each of the many segments of the worm. The bristles are needle-sharp and connected to a poison apparatus. The close view shows the head of the worm, with orange "bonnet", various tentacles, branching red gills along the back, and two black eyes on one side of the head, so the animal has four eyes! If you see this worm, don't pick it up with bare hands! The bristles will stick in your fingers.
Detail of head of bristleworm
©Greenpeace/Roger Grace
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