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
Sabellaria alveolata (Linnaeus, 1767) - Honeycomb worm or Common sabella
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Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- anterior of worm 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- worm 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 2

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- reef / habitat 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- outer row opercular chaetae / paleae 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- inner and outer opercular chaetae 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- inner and outer opercular chaetae 2

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- inner opercular chaetae 1

Worms, tubes and reef photographed on the lowershore during Croyde Bioblitz, Croyde Beach, Croyde, North Devon. 17.09.16.

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 3

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 4

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 5

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- worm 2

Specimens above found at Spit Point, Par, Cornwall. Species to be found on middleshore south of Par Dock outer harbour wall.

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 6

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 7

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- tubes 8

The images above were taken at Torquay, Devon. 10.02.06.

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- worm 3

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- operculum 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- flattened operculum 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- outer row opercular chaetae / paleae 2

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- outer row opercular chaetae / paleae 3

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- palea of both species of Sabellaria 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- inner row opercular chaeta 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- atypical tubes of
juvenile worms 1

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- atypical tubes of
juvenile worms 2

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- atypical tubes of
juvenile worms 3

Honeycomb worm
Sabellaria alveolata
- habitat / location 1

The colony above was found on the middleshore at Albert Pier reef, Penzance, Cornwall, 18.03.18. This 10m x 10m colony of juvenile worms was flat and hugged the rocky terrain.

The species here was identified by the author microscopically but images were to to Dr. Andrew Mackie for verification. The reason for the verification was the tubes as the tubes looked more like those of Sabellaria spinulosus that is found at the same site.

What this means is, is that the species of Sabellaria cannot be determined from tubes alone if they are atypical possibly because of environmental factors, or juvenile, or a combination of both. Therefore to some extend the species has to be determined microscopically for the purposes of correct recording.

European and Scientific Names: Sabellaria alveolata, Honeycomb worm, Lesser Peacock worm, Sandkoralle, Zandkokerworm, Petite sabelle, Sabela pequena.

Sabellaria alveolata Honeycomb worm Common sabella Worm 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.