Unknown Worm/Snake came on uncurred Kalini Rock

[myreeef]

Any ideas on what kind of worm this is? Picture was taken at night using flashlight. You can see about 3 inches of the it in the picture. I do not know its total length, but I have seen 4 to 5 inches of it.
Seems harmless, looks kewl and it tries to avoid the light. It is also very slow moving.

 

[Anonymous]

Ask galleon here, or Anthony Calfo (oh, he is really gonna love me for this one) through wetwebmedia (you can ask the crew a question from the homepage). I haven't an idea what it is.

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like a large chiton to me. Segmented, hard shell body?

 

[myreeef]

No, the body is not segmented. It's smooth and flexible like a slug. The circular indents along it's back seem to be hard and when it bends (forward) the bottom tip of these things stick out a little.
It slithered further into the rock and I haven't seen it in about 5 days.

 

[Anonymous]

Well check it out, we're both in O.C.? Technically, I'm in southeast L.A. county, but with an O.C. zip code.

 

[Anonymous]

That sure does look like a chiton (Polyplacophoran) to me as well, but unlike one I've ever seen.

If it turns out to be a chiton, they are harmless grazers.

 

[myreeef]

Hi and thanks for your replies. When Seamaiden first offered that it looked like a chiton, I did some web-searches and only found oval plated animals. Matt your suggestion to check out the Polyplacophoran (or Polyplacophora) class, turned up some varieties of chiton that have very reduced plates and elongated (non-oval) bodies. These do look somewhat like the one I've seen. Who btw was seen again last night for a few minutes after a 6 day hiatus.

Again, thanks for your help :wink:

 

[Gwarden]

Yep its a Chiton. Actuall species is Cryptoplex. Just like all chitons its completely harmless.

 

[myreeef]

For those of you who are interested, here is a better picture of my chiton... he only comes out at night!

 

[messina06]

yup, I have the same exact creature in my tank. It def is a chiton. Mine I think had a baby cause now I have a tiny little guy that crawls along the glass.

 

[paats]

Pretty cool looking.Wish I had one.