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.

Scroll down and rollover titles to change screen image or click on title to view image.

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
- nemertean on black 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean on black 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean worm anterior 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean worm anterior 2

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean worm anterior 3

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- posterior 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- nemertean on white 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- dorsal region behind head on white background 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- dorsal anterior on white background 1

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

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- habitat / location 1

Pacific Death Worm
Cephalothrix simula
- habitat / location 2

A single mature specimen was found in a small sample of coralline algae taken from a pool on the lowershore at Bovisand, nr. Plymouth, Devon, 19.04.22.

This was probably the first instance of this toxic species being found in the county of Devon. It is highly 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.

E-mail for Advice or Feedback