The fire worm lives on the seabed in different places and receives that name in a popular way because of the irritation it can cause skin.
Today we talk a little about them to get to know them.
What is the Fire Worm?
El Hermocide carunculata, which is what it is called scientifically, was scientifically described in 1766. It belongs to the family of Amphinomidae and is a polychaete annelid. "Polychaete" refers to "many setae," which is due to the numerous tiny hairs they have, which cause irritation.
It is known as fire worm because contact with the skin produces a strong irritation which gives a burning sensation. In addition, its body resembles that of some insects which can also cause skin reactions.
Physical characteristics
The body of the fire worm is quite reminiscent of the centipede. This Ccomposed of segments called metameres. It can reach the 15 cm longThese segments are traversed by blood vessels, intestine, and a nerve cord. Each piece or segment has its own organs, gills, and are connected to each other by a simple circulatory system and a simple nervous system.
has around 125 segments being all the same except the first and the last (head and tail).
The shape of the body is flattened and with very bright colors, something common in nature when you want to warn us of a poisonous and/or dangerous being. He brightly colored pattern of these worms is known as aposematic, a word derived from Greek that means "far or apart" and "sign." This term refers to animals that have some kind of significant defense, such as stings, poisons, or very unpleasant tastes. Their colors typically range from red, green, and brown.
Has a white bristles responsible for generating irritation. These are what are called setae. They're like small tufts of fine, stiff, white hairs that look like fiberglass. The important thing is that they're full of poison. Any contact with another living being can cause these hairs to stick in, causing severe irritation. This is how they defend themselves from potential predators, similar to other animals that have adaptive defense mechanisms.
The setae have this color white as it contains calcium carbonate.
Habitat
the fire worms they inhabit the seabed and specifically roam depths between 40 and 25.000 meters, which means they cover a wide range of temperatures, ranging from the seafloor to the surface of the sea. Their preferred water temperature ranges from 5°C to 28°C.
can be found at both sides of the Atlantic Ocean and also in the Red Sea. Therefore, they can be seen in the Gulf of Mexico, the Azores Islands, the Canary Islands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Egypt, and Italy. You can learn more about the diversity of marine species in these regions.
It is usually found buried in this seabed. Their bodies allow them to burrow. Another place they choose to hide is among holes in rocks. You can read more about the marine environment and its characteristics. here.
What does the Fire Worm feed on?
The fire worm feeds on corals, therefore it is a predator. Specifically, eat the part or soft pulp of stony corals, soft corals in general and also dead anemones or jellyfishThe latter being their preferred food. They may occasionally eat small crustaceans, clams, and plant matter. Their diet is similar to that of other marine animals that require a varied diet.
To feed, secretes digestive enzymes in the mouth that help to digest food beforehand food and facilitate the absorption of nutrients.
The fire worm has a important work in the decomposition of organic matter that reaches the seabed. It also promotes oxygenation of the seabed itself. You can learn more about the elements of the seabed in this article.
Reproduction
When it is time to reproduce, the fire worm swims to some shallow water where mating will take place. On the surface, the females begin to emit an almost phosphorescent green glow. to which males are attracted. The males begin to emit a flash-like light. Once both are close, The reproductive cells secrete and fertilization occurs.
Human bite. Is it dangerous?
When another living thing brushes against a fireworm, the tiny hairs filled with neurotoxic venom burrow into the skin, break off inside, and cause pain, redness, and swellingThe sensation is burning, hence the popular name of the worm. It can be compared to the reactions produced by other poisonous marine species.
Symptoms They can cause nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness in the most serious cases. The effects it generates gradually decrease with the passing of the hours.
Removing these bristles can be relatively simple, you would have to stick a piece of adhesive tape well glued and remove it so that the pieces go along with it of hairs. They cannot be removed with tweezers as if they were a thorn.
It is recommended put ammonia or alcohol to relieve pain, a common strategy in treating marine animal stings.
The "bite" of these worms is not the most common except when diving. That's why it's best not to touch anything while doing this practice. Remember, it's always best to heed the warning whenever you see a brightly colored animal. of the nature and move away.