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.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Polyophthalmus pictus (Dujardin, 1839) - An Opheliid worm (Marine worm images)
Scroll down and rollover titles to change screen image or click on title to view image.
Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- dorsal view 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- dorsal view 2

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- ventral view 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- posterior 1

Specimen above found in a sample of algae collected from a pool on the lowershore at Tavis Vor, Mousehole, Cornwall, 16.02.17.

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- dorsal view 3

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- dorsal view 4

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- ventral view 2

Images above are of a very well marked specimen above found amongst fouling on the side of a pontoon at Mylor Marina, Mylor Churchtown, near Falmouth, Cornwall. 03.09.15.

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- dorsal view 5

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- dorsal view 6

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- ventral view 3

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- Nuchal organs everted 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- Ventral view with mouth and everted nuchal organs laterally at back 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- Pygidium with anal papillae 1

Specimen above found under a rock on the lowershore on an extra low spring tide near St. Michael's Mount causeway, Marazion, Cornwall. 19.04.15.

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile 2

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile 3

Three juvenile specimens were found in fouling scraped from a pontoon at Newlyn Marina, Newlyn, Cornwall. 13.07.16.

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- worm 1

Specimen above found under a rock on the lowershore at Hannafore, Looe, Cornwall by Rob Durrant, 29.03.17.

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile worm 4

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile worm 5

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile worm under a compound microscope 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- with 0.1mm division rule 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile / anterior under a microscope 1

Opheliid worm
Polyophthalmus pictus
- juvenile / posterior under a microscope 1

Numerous juvenile specimens of various sizes were found in fouling scraped from a pontoon at Newlyn Marina, Newlyn, Cornwall. in June 2018. The one displayed above is the smallest.

It must be noted that Newlyn Marina is a private marina that is largely used for commercial activities.

Thanks to Dr. Andrew Mackie for originally confirming species and assisting in labelling images.

Polyophthalmus pictus Opheliid Opheliid marine worm images
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.