Image Gallery: Small Sea Monsters

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Encope aberrans

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Oxyurostylis smithi

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Cumaceans, like this one, generally reside at the sediment-water interface, and as a result, are an important component of the diets of benthic-dwelling fishes.

Cirrophorus ilvana

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Relatively little is known about Cirrophorus ilvana. This species is a deposit feeder that resides solely within the sediment, either actively burrowing, or living within the interconnected tubes it builds out of its own mucus.

Sipuncula

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Sipunculids, or peanut worms, may be epi- or infaunal. Above the sediment they may bore into rock, or are found in mollusc shells, foraminiferan tests, crevices, or in polychaete tubes. Below the sediment, they occupy soft mucus burrows that may extend 50 cm into the sediment.

Tubulanus sp.

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

This sipunculid genus is found in hard mucus burrows deep within the sediment, in rock crevices, and attached to tunicates. It is a predatory carnivore and scavenger that uses a feeding apparatus called an introvert to capture its prey.

Nephtys simoni

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Nephtys simoni is an errant, predatory worm that can burrow up to 10 cm beneath the sediment. It is a popular food of numerous benthic fishes, and humans even use it as "bait" on their fishing hooks.

Bhawania heteroseta

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Little is known about the two species of Bhawania that live at Gray's Reef. They have an epi- or infaunal lifestyle, are carnivorous, have no obvious symbiotic relationships, and have typical polychaete reproductive habits.

Sigalion arenicola

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Sigalion arenicola, also referred to as a "scaleworm," is an epi- and infaunal errant polychaete, typically associated with rocky areas. It is a predatory carnivore that uses its eversible proboscis to capture small invertebrate prey.

Acteocina sp.

(Image credit: NOAA - Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary)

Acteocina species are deep-dwelling, carnivorous and deposit feeding gastropods. They feed on small invertebrates, and are an important food item for benthic fishes.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
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