Saltwater~ Dark, brown, & thick / Looking for worm name. 11/1/2009: I have used your site many times to answer my other questions, it is very helpful. Thank you for your time and knowledge. <Welcome!> However, I was unable to identify a worm I found floating in my tank. <Floating? This IS odd> The closest picture I saw to my worm, was the one attached with question > FAQs about Worms, Vermiform Animals Identification 4: Flat Worms or Leeches? He was either dead or very close to dying when I saw him in the tank. I immediately retrieved him, because I did not know what I was actually seeing in the tank. <Good idea> I have a 120 gallon, established reef tank, and had recently added some new soft corals. Worm Description: He was dark brown, not completely flat, actually kind of think. His approximate length was 1.5 inches and his width was similar to the size of an adult female pinky finger. He had slightly small, bristle like, feelers on the sides - really hard to see with human eye. I have attached a picture, however, it isn't the best clarity. I have not seen any more worms, since this one was removed from the tank. Thanks in advance for any help! Rebecca R. <I do think this is an Echiuran, a Sausage Worm. Please see the Net for pix, more info. re. Bob Fenner>

Alien Worm Thing: worm ID 1/7/03 
Hey Gang, Happy New Year! Anthony, I finally got a picture, do you know what this Alien might be? It is stretched across the sand & can stretch at least 3/4 across the tank. I've seen it deep within the clove polyps & others in my tank & the corals don't look like they mind! This critter retracts very fast to the spot it is anchored at when the lights are turned on. 
<cheers, Scott... sorry I missed you in Colorado this week (Becky e-mailed or called you?). I just got back tonight :) Alas, nothing can be gleaned from the pics my friend... the subject is such a small/distant part of the image (literally a single digit percent of the image). Catch the organism and photograph in a dish/bowl if possible... else please try to get a better close up of part of it (the interesting end <G>). Arghhh! Wish I could be of more help here. Anthony> 

What kind of worm? 1/8/04
Anthony, sorry I couldn't have lunch with y'all, she did email me, but, alas, I had plans for that day. On the worm, found out it's a Sausage worm, one of the R.M.R.C. members found the info & posted on the "Sir Anthony, what the heck is this" thread At Reef Central, Reef club forum! Maybe next time I'll be able to meet y'all for lunch! Happy New year, Scott
<no worries mate... will try to catch you next time. Regarding the worm, the common names are...ahh... meaningless if used alone. Did they give you a genus at least? Is this a Lissomyema species? If so, did you have Atlantic rock? (A common gulf worm). Sausage worm... cool, I think. Neat name at any rate. I'm thinking of renaming myself sausage man, in fact... or "King Sausage". Ya... that one sounds much better to me <G>. Peace bro... Anthony>

Alien Worm Thing III Sausage Worm - Bonellia 1/8/04
Hi Anthony a.k.a *Sausage Man* (LOL) I'm gonna cut & paste the info we found about this critter....its in the Modern Coral Reef Aquarium Volume 3 by Svein and Fossa on pg 154, 155
<sweet... much appreciation for the reference. Duly noted and will be posted here for all as always>
it is a sausage worm...phylum Echiurida according to the authors these guys are excellent detritivores, and are highly suitable for the reef aquarium, however are quite rare.... a description: a T shaped, several meter long proboscis extends from a tube where the mass of the animal resides and the proboscis which houses head/brain/mouth, etc moves in and out of crevices in search of food. this is the visible part of a sausage worm, and the trunk of the body remains well hidden in a crevice among live rock....... the t-shaped proboscis excretes a mucus to which food (detritus) adheres..
the worm is most likely Bonellia sp.!!!!.......And so this describes to a "T" this thing, that has been doin' it's thing in my reef. Catch ya next time around & on the boards Suasa...er...Anthony, Peace & Incense, Stormbringer
<thanks again! :) Rock on my salty brother... Antoine>