Sea mouse | The Wildlife Trusts

This strange furry creature often found washed ashore after storms is actually a kind of worm!

Species information

Category

Worms

Statistics

Length: Average 7-15cm, rarely up to 30cm
Width: Up to 6cm

Conservation status

Common

When to see

January to December

About

The sea mouse is marine worm. Its body is covered in bristles - giving it a furry appearance. At the fringes are beautiful iridescent bristles that shimmer blue, green and gold. The sea mouse is an active predator, hunting small crabs and other worms on the seabed.

How to identify

A large furry creature - unlike anything else in the sea. It is an oval shaped worm covered in grey bristles, the edges fringed with iridescent bristles that appear blue, green and gold.

Distribution

Found around all UK coasts.

Habitats

Marine

Did you know?

The sea mouse gets its scientific name from Aphrodite - the Greek Goddess of Love.

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A coastal landscape, with the sea gently lapping at smooth rocks as the sun sets behind scattered clouds

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

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Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

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