January 22nd, 2008
January brought some unusual, interesting and lesser known species. A Tentacled Lagoon Worm was found in Devon. A Gribble and an interesting parasite were both found on Dorset beaches.
The tentacled lagoon worm (Alkmaria romijni) was found on the Dart estuary in Devon. This is a nationally scarce species. Alkmaria romijni is a small worm, up to 5mm long with eight tentacles which are thread-like and slimy. This species is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 due to it scarcity.
Also found was a gribble (Limnoria lignorum) boring into wood on a Dorset beach. Gribbles are small wood borers, about 3.5-4mm long.
An interesting find was this whale louse, an ectoparasite found on a dolphin washed up on a beach, again in Dorset.
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- Gribble
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- Louse
All Photos: Steve Trewhella
Like these photos? Find out more about the photographer here.
Added by Rachelle Long
