Name this Critter?

[SoCalRich]

Found this little guy in Key Largo. Trying to find out what it is called . Looks like some kind of Nudi?

Good Divin
SoCalRich

 

[uncfnp]

Flamingo tongue snail. Nice pics.

 

[SoCalRich]

Thanks, The DM didn't know and I couldn't find it in my books. What are those little guys that swarm you on during night dives called?

 

[agilis]

They are obligate feeders on seafans and other Gorgonians, and are invariably found on them. Very common in the Caribbean.

 

[uncfnp]

Thanks, The DM didn't know and I couldn't find it in my books. What are those little guys that swarm you on during night dives called?

Blood worms! Yuck! Hate them.

 

[CuzzA]

Likely some species of amphipod.

 

[agilis]

Thanks, The DM didn't know and I couldn't find it in my books. What are those little guys that swarm you on during night dives called?

Those Polychaete worms are actually attracted to the lights. They are plankton eaters.

 

[ColoDale]

The small red ones we commonly call bloodworms. I think they are genus Glycera - a group of polychaetes. I have never had them bite. Just annoying. There are others that we see and I don't know what is in Florida.

 

[CuzzA]

Most polychaetes are benthic rock dwellers. Brittleworms et cetera. I am unaware of a species that free swims. Their reproduction technique produces epitokes, which are mesmerizing to watch as they twirl, spin and dance in the water column before exploding into countless babies.

Amphipods and isopods are benthic as well, especially during the day when they hide from predators, but being a shrimp like species, they have the ability to swim. My night dives at Key Largo were definitely some sort of pod. Come to think of it, probably isopods. Some are parasitic to fish and so they must swim to latch on and feed on their host.

 

[CuzzA]

At 4:50 you can see them swarming.