#invertibrates

a very photogenic mantis from (Genus Amantis)... a creature that just looks rad no matter what angle you photograph it from

Eleodes gracilis ssp. distans (Subspecies of Darkling Beetle), photographed by Winsten Slowswakey (Source)

I've grown to appreciate roaches so much more lately. I can genuinely say this looks pretty to me. The cream white and shiny black accents are really beautiful. They're not just a brown blob.

I like the spikes on their legs too. My ocd fucking hates those spikes, I used to feel them for hours after I'd touch one when trying to get them outside.

Also their niche is being able to eat anything so they can fill any niche they need to. I can really appreciate that.

Welcome to another wriggly, writhing, worm Wednesday. Today's crawling critter is a common sight in Atlantic coral reefs, where its ecological role is a matter of debate. There's still a lot we don't know about the bearded fireworm, but we know enough to say that if you see one, don't touch it. Now if you see a bearded firewyrm it means you're in an RPG and you might as well go for it. It probably drops good loot.

(Image: a bearded fireworm on a rock covered in red algae. It is a long, thick, and somewhat flattened worm with brownish body segments divided by green lines. Along its sides are red bristles and gills, as well as tufts of very fine white bristles that almost look like fur. End ID)

The bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) is a polychaete worm, the largest group of segmented worms. Polychaetes are known for the bristles called chaetes that grow on lobes on their body segments called parapodia. Different polychaetes have modified their chaetes to perform different functions, such as paddles for swimming, pseudo-limbs for walking, or defensive structures. When asked what it wanted to use its chaetes for, the bearded fireworm said "yes". They can use their for both crawling and swimming, but have also modified tufts of bristles along the sides of the body that are used for defense. These bristles are very skinny and sharp and filled with neurotoixic venom. When touched, the bristles will break off and embed themselves in the flesh on an attacker, allowing them to continue pumping venom into whatever animal touched the worm. In humans, the venom can cause pain, burning, dizziness, and nausea, but is rarely medically significant. In polychaetes, only the head and rear segments are distinct from the others. The head of a fireworm contains the mouth, simple eyes, and a structure called a caruncle used for smelling. The rear portion contains the anus. Fireworms get to be about 18-25 cm long (8-10 in) and come in a variety of colors, from dull brown to red.

(Image: a bearded fireworm crawling over a rock, seen from the front. Its head is mostly red, but no real distinct features are visible. End ID)

Bearded fireworms are found in tropical seas throughout the Atlantic ocean, from the southern USA to Guyana in the west, Ascension Island in the middle, and the Mediterranean sea and the northern and western coasts of Africa in the east. While most famously coral reef dwellers they can also be found in a wide range of habitats, including rocky, sandy, and muddy bottoms, seagrass beds, driftwood, and harbors. They are typically found within the top 40 m (130 ft) of the ocean and prefer coastal environments. Fireworms are nocturnal primarily-carnivorous omnivores that target cnidarians, particularly coral and anemones. They are also opportunistic scavengers that will target almost any form of dead animal. Fireworms largely target corals for feeding, especially staghorn corals. The worm will climb on a staghorn coral antler and engulf the tip with its pharynx. It then consumes the polyps and tissue of the coral, a process that can take several minutes. After a fireworm finishes feeding, the coral skeleton will be exposed. They supplement their diets with algae and seagrass. Fireworms hide underneath rocks during the day. When threatened, they flare their bristles outward and may attempt to escape by swimming.

(Image: a fireworm feeding on a stalk of coral. It has climbed onto the stalk, which is skinnier than it. The lower body is wrapped round the stalk. Its head is engulfing the tip of the stalk. End ID)

Bearded fireworms can reproduce both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction typically occurs 2-5 days after the full moon. Females will swim to the surface of the water or move to a hight point on a rock and signal to males that she is fertile by releasing pheromones and bioluminescing. Males swim up after her, forming a swarm as they try to get as close as possible. The female will release her eggs into the water and males follow up by releasing sperm. These swarms often attract predators looking to eat the worms and filter feeders looking to eat the eggs. Fertilized eggs will hatch into larvae that live amongst the plankton. As they age, they will grow larger and eventually sink to the seafloor. When reproducing asexually, the fireworm will split itself into two or more pieces, they then grow new heads and/or tails and become independent clones of each other. This regenerative ability also helps them survive predation. A worm bitten in half by a predator can regenerate and survive. Fireworms live for up to five years.

(Video: a group of fireworms mating. There are multiple worms of different sized crawling and swimming around each other, forming a tight and shifting cluster on top of a rock. As they crawl together, gametes are released on the form white specks and streams. End ID)

Fireworms have often been seen as threats to coral reef health as the damage they do to corals can negatively impact their health and exposes them to disease and algae competition. They are also known to act as carrier for bacteria that infect corals. These bacteria seem to use the worms as homes for the winter and migrate back to the corals in spring. Overpopulation of fireworms does pose a threat to reef health, but more recent studies indicate that in a healthy reef, the worms are beneficial by increasing competition. It is only when the reef is in poor health that the worms start damaging it. Unfortunately, climate change, pollution, and overfishing of the worm's main predators means that most reefs are in poor health. As the oceans warm, the fireworms are expanding their range forth and south, possibly allowing them to enter ecosystems that aren't adapted to their presence.

(Image: a bioluminescing fireworm. It is glowing green. End ID)

The conservation status of fireworms has not been evaluated, but they appear to be abundant in their range. They are not commercially important to humans aside from their impact on reefs. As mentioned above, the burning sensation their venom causes is painful, but rarely dangerous. Tape can be used to help get the bristles out of your skin if you do touch one. Despite their striking appearance, fireworms are rarely kept in aquariums due to their aggressive nature to other tank inhabitants and the likelihood of getting stung.