Mystery from the Sea of Cortez

July 8, 2002
From: Rick Hennis

This creature came in on some live rock out of the Sea of Cortez. It comes out about 5min after lights out.
Please help me identify.
Thanks,
Rick H.

rickhennis@hotmail.com

Hennis, R., 2002 (Jul 8) Mystery from the Sea of Cortez. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7418

Dear Rick,
This is a Nemertean worm (also known as a Ribbon Worm, or Bootlace Worm}. They can grow very long and can change shape from being a short, fat worm to being an extremely long thin worm. Unlike most worms it does not have a mouth is not at the end of its body but has a long proboscis which can shoot out from a pore about a quarter of the way down the body. I think the third 'arm' in your animal is the feeding proboscis.
Cheers,
Bill Rudman

Rudman, W.B., 2002 (Jul 8). Comment on Mystery from the Sea of Cortez by Rick Hennis. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/7418

Factsheet

Bootlace and ribbon worms - Nemertea

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