Once a month we will be sharing a marine species reported via the Fair Isle Marine WhatsApp group. This group is a space for community members and visitors to the isle to share any interesting marine finds. These reports also contribute to marine species records for Fair Isle to help monitor changes in biodiversity.
This month we have a 12 scaled worm found at Sompal by Eileen Thomson.
Lepidonotus squamatus is a species of polychaete worm commonly known as “12 scaled worm” due to its overlapping rows of scales, which can emit a faint bioluminescent glow which is uses as a defence mechanism against predators. They can grow up to 5cm in length and feed on a range of prey including molluscs, crabs, starfish and other small invertebrates
The species can be found in both Pacific and Atlantic oceans often living under rocks, in kelp holdfasts or among mussels and barnacles.
📸 Eileen Thomson