Whilst Barry the polychaete worm at the aquarium in Newquay is certainly a smashing looking creature, he is not as singular as one might have thought. They can be quite aggressive, and related species are even found in British waters.The aggression of large polychaetes should not be underestimated. Whilst on a residential course at Dale Fort, near Haverfordwest in Wales during my time studying zoology at university, I was studying the effects of osmosis on marine worms.
We had captured a number of large specimens of the king ragworm (Nereis virens ). The largest was as long as my forearm and as thick as my finger. Whilst releasing them back into the sea after the experiment was finished the big individual coiled round at attempted to bite me with pincers the size of rose thorns. It narrowly missed.
We had captured a number of large specimens of the king ragworm (Nereis virens ). The largest was as long as my forearm and as thick as my finger. Whilst releasing them back into the sea after the experiment was finished the big individual coiled round at attempted to bite me with pincers the size of rose thorns. It narrowly missed.
I have no doubt they could easily devour small fish
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