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
- worm / black background 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- worm / black background 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- worm / black background 3

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean with 1.0mm division black rule 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean worm anterior 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean worm anterior 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- on white background 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- on white background anterior close-up 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- habitat Amathia imbricata covered Fucus serratus, Saw Wrack 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- habitat / location 1

A single specimen was found at the low tide mark on a low spring tide between Ashtorre Community Center and the foot of the pillar of Brunel's railway bridge, Saltash, Cornwall on the 06.03.22. The specimen was found among the bryozoan Amathia imbricata that covered Fucus serratus, Saw Wrack, the Saw Wrack being attached to Magallana gigas, Pacific Oyster.

This was the third instance of this toxic species being found in Cornwall, the others being the first physical instance of the worm in the UK at Godrevy Point, Hayle; and at Hannafore, Looe. All specimens being found by the author of this website David Fenwick. The find at Saltash is the very first in the Plymouth (Special Area of Conservation) / Tamar Estuary, it is unlikely to be the only worm and it is getting more likely that Cephalothrix simula will be present in many more locations across the south west peninsula.

Cephalothrix simula is an invasive species and sadly we currently do not know the ecology of the toxin TTX that is produced within the worm by the bacteria Vibrio alginolyticus. We have no idea where in the food chain TTX may turn up and therefore the impact it will have on other invertebrates or higher species. It is critical that we do further research into environmental TTX, and well before we end up having a crisis that affects higher species, even ourselves.

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.