Fresh water polychaete worm

We finally identified this as a fresh water polychaete worm. I think the nubby legs (parapodia) on the side and the proboscis (extendable tube in his nose) are important traits. We also learned that most polychaetes are found in salt water. This was discovered in the shallows of Cooper Lake state park in north central Texas.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• fresh
• water
• polychaeta
• polychaete
• Bristle
• worm
• annelida
• parapodia

[NickMDal]

I see. Thanks MrDiptera. My sincere apologies dr1steve. 2 things still seem odd though. First, while these are not annelids, the larvae seem to possess most of the same characters. The setae were positioned and felt exactly like those of an oligochaete. Funny too that the suction tube and proboscis seem identical. The critter in the film even had what could only be described as short parapodia. Lastly, it was 4 inches long.

All said, I can agree but much prefer larva to maggot : - )

[grettagrids]

are those in AZ too?? I live in az. wonder if I can catch one for a pet?

[NickMDal]

@grettagrids Good question. I'm not sure of their range or even if they're common. We have the two main books on US invertebrate identification and they mention but don't list any freshwater polychaetes. I bet it would make a good pet. When we let it go, it swam as fast as we walked, straight out to the deep. It didn't wriggle but instead had a hooking kind of motion. We loved it! Thanks for the comment :-)

[dr1steve]

I don't think it is a polychaete (or any other type of annelid worm). It looks and moves more like an insect larva - a maggot of some kind would be my guess.

[NickMDal]

@dr1steve It looks like a polychaete because it contains the defining characters of one. These include setae (chaetae) at the ends of the clearly visible parapods. I felt the setae with my own hands, which protruded with its contractions, just as they do with an earthworm (oligochaete). Also, you can easily see the proboscis as it everts through the mouth. These are not characters of fly or other larval forms, only of polychaetes. Of all the larval types, you suggested the most derogatory.

[Limnodynastes1]

This is a dipteran (fly) larvae of some sort

[Mr95Uros]

0:08 o shit

[angeleye250]

This seems to be a horsefly larva.

[zmeier01]

I work with both diptera in polychaetes all the time in my work and I had no idea there was even such a thing as a freshwater polychaete, I always thought they were exclusively marine. I must do some research on this fascinating turn of events!

[dr1steve]

Apology accepted ;) I work with fresh water polychaetes. The reason for the similar morphologies is due to nature solving the same set of problems in the same way in two different critters that have to live, move, feed etc in sediment under moving water. A nice example of convergent evolution.

[MrDiptera]

@dr1steve definately a tabanid larvae

[MrDiptera]

Its actually not a worm at all, its a tabanid (horsefly) maggot. They are aquatic, highly active and some come in some awesome colors. Cool video nonetheless.