A spoon worm (Amalosoma eddystonense)

Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help

Summary

Description

An unsegmented, sausage-shaped worm, up to 15cm long, 2.5cm in width and greenish in colour. At the anterior end it has a long, mobile proboscis which may be retracted into the body. Male worms are up to 2mm long and parasitic on the females.

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland

Reported from northwest Scotland and Orkney, one site in Cardigan Bay, west Wales, and off the south coast of Devon.

Global distribution

Reported off south west France.

Habitat

Present in burrows in mud, coarse sand or shell gravel down to a depth of 50 m.

Depth range

-

Identifying features

  • A stout, unsegmented worm up to 15cm long and 2.5cm in width.
  • Greenish in colour.
  • Long, soft proboscis extending from anterior end.

Additional information

-none-

Listed by

- none -

Further information sources

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Bibliography

  1. Hayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (ed.) 1995b. Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  2. Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]

  3. JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee), 1999. Marine Environment Resource Mapping And Information Database (MERMAID): Marine Nature Conservation Review Survey Database. [on-line] http://www.jncc.gov.uk/mermaid

  4. MBA (Marine Biological Association), 1957. Plymouth Marine Fauna. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

  5. Stephen, A.C. & Edmunds, S.J., 1972. The phyla Sipuncula and Echiura London: British Museum (Natural History)

Datasets

  1. NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.

  2. OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System),  2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-21

Citation

This review can be cited as:

Avant, P. 2008. Amalosoma eddystonense A spoon worm. In Tyler-Walters H. and Hiscock K. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Reviews, [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 21-05-2025]. Available from: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1730

Last Updated: 23/06/2008