APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

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Images on this page are not to be used without the written permission of the copyright holder David Fenwick. E-mail

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- anterior 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- anterior 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- anterior 3

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- anterior 4

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- anterior 5

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- under microscope 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- under microscope 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- contracted specimen with 1.0mm division rule 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- extended specimen with 1.0mm division rule 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- in container 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- juveniles in container 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- juvenile on side of plastic rearing container 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- juvenile on side of plastic rearing container 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- juveniles reared in a container of oxygenated seawater 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- habitat / location 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- habitat / location 3

Eleven quite pallid specimens were found under stones and among algae near Baiters Point, Poole Quay, Poole, Dorset, 12.09.18. Species confirmed by molecular analysis.

See paper-
New Invasive Nemertean Species (Cephalothrix simula) in England with High Levels of Tetrodotoxin and a Microbiome Linked to Toxin Metabolism.

IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE:
The identification of this species is by DNA sequencing only.
The reason for this is that there are two other morphologically identical species that exist in the Asian Pacific, but so far none of them have been identified in Europe. The species can also be confused with UK natives. A good knowledge of nemerteans is needed to even tentatively identify this species.
E-mail for advice

The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help

people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.