Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Pile Worm Nereis brandti 1)

Pile Worm Takes a Stroll in the Sun

It's sunny in Seattle....so everyone is out for a stroll at Alki......don't think there is anyone at work today...all stretching the 4th of July holiday into a 5 day deal.  A large Pile Worm...Nereis brandti  joined the sun worshipers....not a good idea as the beach got rather warm.  After posing for some pictures the worm was returned to a cooler water depth. These large polychaete worms reach lengths of 90cm but are usually about 1/2 that long.  In addition some Frilled Whelks were mating, a hermit crab was giving a tiny sea squirt a ride and a Rockweed Isopod was running around with Opalescent Nudibranch eggs attached to its back.....just another normal day in the intertidal.
HAPPY 4TH of JULY....don't blow any of your appendages off...

Frilled Whelks mating

Hairy Hermit Crab

Hermit Crab

Hairy Hermit Crab with tiny Sea Squirt attached

Limpet with barnacle load

Mottled Star sieve plate

Pile Worm (Nereis brandti) about 40cm


Pile Worm

Pile Worm

Pile Worm

Pile Worm

Pile Worm

Pile Worm

Pile Worm

Pile Worm


Isopod (Rockweed) with Opalescent Nudibranch eggs attached