Phylum: Echiura

Class: Echiuroidea

Order: Bonelliida

Family: Bonelliidae

Scientific name: Bonellia viridis

 

Norwegian: grønn pølseorm

(Børsabergan - The Trondheim fjord / 45 meters / 6.08.2008)

Distribution: This is a very common spoon worm along the coast of Norway, at least as far North as Trøndelag. It is found in soft substrate, usually deeper than 20 meters. It can be seen stretched out on the sea bed. When disturbed by light or motions, it contracts swiftly in to the mud or sand.

Characteristics: Echiurans were earlier included among the segmented worms, and they are still considered closely related. The body is not segmented, but the distinctive free-swimming larval stages of echiurans and polychaetes are very similar. The Bonellia viridis has a blue-green color and can reach a length of more than 10 cm.  On the picture you can see the split "mouth" leading down to the the throat.

Biology: The skin contains a neural poison that can paralyze small animals. You will only encounter the females, as the males are of microscopic size and live inside the females. Larvae touching the skin of an adult female turn into males. For some echiurans the male has never been found.

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