What are giant reef worms?
They are segmented worms belonging to the Family Eunicidae, Class Polychaeta, Phylum Annelida. The polychaetes include bristleworms, and Phylum Annelida includes the more familiar earthworm. Eunicid worms are commonly encountered on all our shores. They range from tiny ones only 1cm or shorter but include some of the longest polychaetes. Some members of Family Eunicidae can reach 6m with more than a thousand segments! These worms can live for several years. Most Eunicids are carnivorous. Some live in tubes, others may live in rocky habitats, burrow into coralline rock or limestone, or burrow into sand and mud. Features: The giant reef worm can reach up to 1.5m. Indeed, such long ones are commonly encountered on our shores. It has a white ring around the fourth body segment, short pointed bristles on the sides of the body, and long tentacles and other gruesome-looking appendages on its head. Although it does have a face that only a mother could love, it is beautiful in some ways with gl
