Hermodice carunculata (bearded fireworm) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 3 (16141636621)

Description:

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 fireworm shown above is feeding on the tips of an octocoral - note that many of the tips of this octocoral are damaged. Classification: Animalia, Annelida, Polychaeta, Errantia, Amphinomidae Locality: patch reef just west of Cut Cay, eastern Graham's Harbour, northern San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas. Date: 22 June 2010, 11:02. Source: Hermodice carunculata (bearded fireworm) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 3. Author: James St. John.