Description: Hermodice carunculata (Pallas, 1766) - bearded fireworm at a patch reef. Fireworms have tufts of spines/bristles along the lateral margins of the body. Puncture by these spines of results in painful wounds. This species varies in color from greenish brown to brown to whitish to orangish to reddish. The greenish-colored organisms are Microdictyon marinum green algae (Chlorophyta). The pale pinkish-colored material is calcareous red algae ("reef cement") (Rhodophyta). The yellowish-brown organisms are Agaricia agaricites danai scaled lettuce corals. Classification of worm: Animalia, Annelida, Polychaeta, Errantia, Amphinomidae Locality: patch reef west of Rocky Point & northern Sand Dollar Beach, northwestern San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas. Date: 19 March 2011, 15:42. Source: Hermodice carunculata (bearded fireworm) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 4. Author: James St. John.
Saurashtra University. Saurashtra University. Saurashtra University. Year: 2014. Contact: rskundu@sauuni.ernet.in, +919427221065.
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Go ahead... let me know how it works out.Bearded FirewormHermodice carunculataScout Key Monroe County Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus 14-42mm II R LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
Fireworm takes on fire coral. This bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) must have a strong stomach! Its sucking on some fire coral (Millepora sp.) that would give the unlucky snorkeler a nasty sting. Encountered in St. John, US Virgin Islands, the worm in this photo, is about 15 cm (6 inches) long, but they can get up to twice that length. Those bristles can break off in human skin, also causing a burning sensation.
While this bristleworm scours the bottom, you don't want to get in it's way.Those little white chaetae,are chocked full of venom.If you don't pester it, you can watch it do worm stuff and It won't bother you either. Get as close as you're comfortable.Apparently, when they get disturbed the bristles are more pronounced. Bearded FirewormHermodice carunculataScout Key Monroe County Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus 14-42mm II R LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
When disturbed, the bristles are more pronounced. I have no intention of seeing this thing angry, so if you ever do, let me know how that worked out for you.Bearded FirewormHermodice carunculataScout Key Monroe County Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus 14-42mm II R LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear
If it hits you, it's going to hurt.Bearded FirewormHermodice carunculataScout Key Monroe County Florida, USAOlympus OM-D E-M5 Mark IIOlympus 14-42mm II R LensPT-EP13 Underwater Housing, PPZR-EP02 Lens Port & 14-42mm Zoom Gear28 September 2019#1stPixScoutKeyPhil's 1stPix Instagram Phil's 1stpix InstagramPhil's 1stPix on iNaturalist-Observation Map iNaturalist: ObservationsPhil's 1stPix on iNaturalist- Species Grid iNaturalist: Species
