An interesting animal that we sometimes pull up in the scallop drag is the sea mouse (Aphrodita hastata). It’s not a chordate like a real mouse but an annelid, a segmented worm. Flip it over and underneath the segments of its body are visible.
Sea mouse information:
· Found below low tide on muddy bottoms.
· Has a ‘furry’ covering that can appear iridescent green/gold.
· Predatory on other polychaete worms.
· Short and wide; maximum length is about 15cm (6 inches).
For information on other animals in our area, check out the Intertidal Zone Field Guide and the Introduction to Classification on our website, www.huntsmanmarine.ca/html/resources1.html.
Sea mouse
Underside
