WHAT THE??

Replies 1-4 of 4

Tim Hochgrebe added 2005-03-23

Hi Rob,

I have the feeling you might be talking about some kind of spoon worm - echiura

see http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/edu/dees/ees/life/slides/phyla/echiura.html

most commonly seen is Bonellia viridis

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/Grzimek_inverts/Echiura/Bonellia_viridis.jpg/view.html

Cheers

Tim
Tim Hochgrebe
http://www.underwater.com.au
Dive in, Explore ... and Save!

SteveW added 2006-02-23

Hi Rob,

Tim is being all scientific and polite because his Mum's in town.

What you've seen is more commonly referred to among night divers as "the big green snot monster". You'll find them in the harbour, as you have, and many other places: eg, Bare Island, Cronulla etc.

I've seen a similar worm around the North Solitary Islands. When I say "similar", it's relative: these ones are white, they come out in the daylight and they're much thinner than the big green snot monsters. A light touch on the end will make them retract like the BGSMs.

Of course, none of this is much help...

SteveW added 2006-02-23

Hi Rob,

Tim is being all scientific and polite because his Mum's in town.

What you've seen is more commonly referred to among night divers as "the big green snot monster". You'll find them in the harbour, as you have, and many other places: eg, Bare Island, Cronulla etc.

I've seen a similar worm around the North Solitary Islands. When I say "similar", it's relative: these ones are white, they come out in the daylight and they're much thinner than the big green snot monsters. A light touch on the end will make them retract like the BGSMs.

Of course, none of this is much help...

SteveW added 2006-02-23

Sorry about the double posting -- I'm a luddite.

BTW, a Google Image search on the scientific name Tim gave, Bonellia viridis, comes up with quite a few pix of the BGSM. Should be what you're looking for.

Replies 1-4 of 4

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