Scuttle Worms

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Overview

These saltwater annelids eat a variety of dead organic matter, including the wooden planks of ship hulls, making them a menace to marine traffic. An infestation of scuttle worms can sink a boat in a matter of days if they bloom unnoticed. For this reason seagoing vessels are routinely dry-docked and inspected before any extended sea voyage.

Common Names
Scuttle worms, Ship Grubs

Description

Classification
annelid
Size
up to 3 centimetres (up to 1.25 inches)
Appearance
White segmented worms with tiny black bristles at each segment. the mouth parts are a tri-part hinged beak like structure.

Ecology

Habitat
Tropical through temperate salt water
Diet
Wood and other dead plant material that is soaked in salt water.

Behaviour

Social grouping
No structured groups exist, but they seldom travel very far from where they hatch, unless carried by a boat or ship.
Temperament
Oblivious, will react to touch by squirming away.
Intelligence
Negligible
Reproduction
Scuttle worms are hermaphrodites and when food is plentiful will mate and lay eggs in the tunnels they chew through waterlogged wood. The eggs hatch in a few weeks, and begin the cycle anew, becoming adult sized and mature after a month of more given sufficient food material.

Domestication

General
No domestic use
Resources
Fish bait

See Also