rockin'robin
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ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A little after midnight St. Augustine police discovered thousands of bristle worms swimming in Vilano Beach.
Cpl. Brandon Embrey, of St. Augustine Police was one of the first to find these creepy crawlers, and he said he couldn't believe his eyes.
"There had to be millions of them, I couldn't see the bottom, all I could see was red," said Embrey.
Embrey also said they started to disappear because mullet were attacking them.
Bristleworms range in size from small (about 1" long) up to very large at about 20" in length. Most small ones are an orange color, sometime appearing two-tone in color.
Video: Thousands Of Bristle Worms Seen
Slideshow: Worms Coat Surface Of Water
Larger bristleworms are frequently gray or brownish in color. Bristle worms are composed of many segments and have bristles (setae) which extend from both sides of its body along its entire length, hence their common name.
These setae are clearly visible in the picture above. Bristle worms live in the sand or within the live rock. They are nocturnal and not usually seen during the day.
Historically, bristleworms were all considered to be bad. Most literature warns that they can attack and eat clams, anemones, corals and even fish.
Bristle Worms Swarm In Vilano Beach - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
Cpl. Brandon Embrey, of St. Augustine Police was one of the first to find these creepy crawlers, and he said he couldn't believe his eyes.
"There had to be millions of them, I couldn't see the bottom, all I could see was red," said Embrey.
Embrey also said they started to disappear because mullet were attacking them.
Bristleworms range in size from small (about 1" long) up to very large at about 20" in length. Most small ones are an orange color, sometime appearing two-tone in color.
Video: Thousands Of Bristle Worms Seen
Slideshow: Worms Coat Surface Of Water
Larger bristleworms are frequently gray or brownish in color. Bristle worms are composed of many segments and have bristles (setae) which extend from both sides of its body along its entire length, hence their common name.
These setae are clearly visible in the picture above. Bristle worms live in the sand or within the live rock. They are nocturnal and not usually seen during the day.
Historically, bristleworms were all considered to be bad. Most literature warns that they can attack and eat clams, anemones, corals and even fish.
Bristle Worms Swarm In Vilano Beach - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
