Description

Also known as Aphrodite, Aphrodite's Worm, Common Sea Mouse, European Sea Mouse, Fire Worm, Marine Fireworm, Rock Worm, Sea Caterpillar, Segmented Sea Worm, Segmented Worm, Tubeworm.

Found singly, buried head first or on fine sand over coral and rocky reefs.
They feed nocturnally on crabs and other worms, sometimes up to three times their own length by swallowing them whole.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 0-3000m
Widespread Northeast Atlantic, Mediterannean, Northwest Pacific

Often large numbers are found washed up on shores after storms.

Segmented worms are extremely mobile, have strong jaws for hunting and feeding on their prey.
Some worms are covered in hairs for protection, scavenging on the sea floor for detritus.
Others are delicate fans, protected by their self made tubes, which they retreat back into when threatened, these are filter feeders and feed on plankton. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodita_aculeata