A seagull had pulled this worm from one of the worm beds we get along the beach. I gave it a fright and it dropped it. I had tried digging for the worms, but found nothing except for empty tubes (see 7th photo). I am assuming the worm shown is the worm species creating these worm beds. But it may not be. Any suggestions @readgb? I don't think it looks like a Thoracophelia as you thought they may be?
3mm approx.
3m depth.
temp 13 degrees.
On hydroid attached to old encrusted metal beam under wharf.
Please see @apteryx54 observation for the same species on the same hydroid on 24.5.2023.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/163433150
3mm approx.
3m depth.
temp 13 degrees.
On hydroid attached to old encrusted metal beam under wharf.
Please see @apteryx54 observation for the same species on the same hydroid on 24.5.2023.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/163433150
70mm
4m depth
13 degrees
On sandy substrate under wharf.
We see a lot of these everywhere all year round, eggs, tiny juveniles and adults.
Possibly Dactylia varia according NIWA splendid sponges.
We see theses here, in the harbour channel deep wall dive and over at Aramoana mole dive site.
The ones on the Aramoana wreck and in the channel grow bigger.
Roughly 2 cm long.
Larval or post-larval phase?
Between 2 to 3 mm.
3 m depth.
13 degrees
On old encrusted wooden wharf pylon lying on the sandy substrate under the wharf.
There were at least 10 + on these hydroids growing on the clump of sea tulips.
These were further down a few metres from the first hydroids that we saw the first Eubranchus sp. on. The Doto were laying eggs and all the ones I saw had the brown speckling markings on them as per @apteryx54 observation on 23.5.2023.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/163248687
I didn't get as good as photos as Richard there was a current and were hydroids in the way but still am posting observation for recording.
There are two in the last photo laying eggs, one on each frond the back one is upside down.
2 to 4 mm
3 m depth
13 degrees
Three on the hydroid that was growing on the blue sponge.
I have seen some over twice this size so I would guess they are juveniles.
See @apteryx54 observation a week ago of adult with eggs inside at the same location on a similar hydroid.
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/161352421
@luca_dt what are these hydroids called? do they feed on them?.
These appear then disappear approx. twice a year in these dive spots in the harbour.
3 to 4 mm
3 m depth
13 degrees
This is the second one we saw.
This was on the same hydroids as all the Doto sp. we saw that were growing on the Sea tulips a few metres from the first Eubranchus we saw.
Both the Eubranchus sp. today were the same species as seen in @apetryx54 observation
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/163433150
3m depth
13 degrees
We see these all year round here.
This one about 30mm diameter, with one twice that size beside it on sandy substrate under the wharf.
40mm approx.
4m depth
13 degrees.
On wharf pylon. We see these here all year round.
60mm
2m depth
13 degrees
On sandy substrate under wharf.
These are here most of the year they disappear for a few months of the year.
Video here
https://youtu.be/pAVEigVFUcQ
9mm
Depth 4 m
13 degrees
On orange sponge growing on Wharf Pylon.
You can see eggs inside it.
There were a few this size in different spots under the wharf on this dive.
We see these most of the year they disappear for a while sometimes.
30mm approx
2 m depth
13 degrees
I saw about 8 under the wharf so they are coming back to this area again.
This one was a wharf pylon.
Approx. 40mm diameter pocket of them.
3.8 m depth
13 degrees
Little pockets of them on the side on an old encrusted wharf pylon lying on the sandy bottom under the wharf.
Bottom right. Photo indicative of habitat.