Feather Duster Worm

Sabellidae. Te tentacles protrude from a stiff sandy tube and are very sensitive to water movements, detecting predators quickly by hiding back on their tube.
Spotted in Ustica, Italy.

comments (3)

WildFlower

Lion

I had never seen such a species. Very nice series again and very well described. I have promoted a few :) Posted 10 years ago, modified 10 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

I can only agree with @Wildflower. You are making some very valuable contributions to the site, we have very few marine species here. Posted 10 years ago

Patomarazul

Lion

Hi Wildflower and fchristant: many thanks for appreciating my spottings. I will add more, mostly in the weekends, also from land pictures. I have thousands from different trips :-) Posted 10 years ago

The sabella spallanzani

''Sabella spallanzanii'' is a species of marine polychaete worms in the family Sabellidae. Common names include the Mediterranean fanworm, the feather duster worm, the European fan worm and the pencil worm. It is native to shallow waters in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It has spread to various other parts of the world and is included on the Global Invasive Species Database.

The species' name commemorates the 18th-century biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani.

Info 1 0

Similar species: Fan-head Worms

Species identified by Patomarazul