Phylum: Annelida

Class: Polychaeta

Functional group: Sedentaria

Order: Sabellida

Family: Sabellidae

Scientific name: Myxicola infundibulum

 

Norwegian: mudder-rørmark

(Hindrem - The Trondheim fjord / 11 meters / 8.11.2001)

Distribution: This fan worm or slime worm is common along the entire Norwegian coast, but is easily overlooked. It took me more than a 100 dives before I noticed it for the first time. It retracts into the soft bottom in case of the slightest change in light or if it senses any sudden movements nearby. You probably need to dive deeper than 15 meters to find them. They have been registered as deep as 500 meters.

Characteristics: The worm can reach a length of 20 cm, but you can only see the pale red to dark brown tentacles, unless you dig it out of the ground. A transparent membrane covers the tentacles.

All pictures: