Eudistylia vancouveri (Kinberg, 1867)

Northern Feather Duster Worm

Size: The worm’s tube can be anywhere between 3.8 to 63.5 cm long.

Range: Northern California to Alaska; South Puget Sound.

Habitat: This worm usually lives on the underside of docks that have been stable for a long time or on pilings right underneath the surface of the water.

Misidentification: Could be confused with Eudistylia polymorpha, though the tentacles of E. polymorpha are tan to orange in color while the tentacles of E. vancouveri are black and maroon.

Websites:

Feather Duster Worm: http://www.telusplanet.net/kerryw/creature/dust.htm

Eudistylia vancouveri:

http://www.lander.edu/rsfox/310EudistyliaLab.html

Books:

Gotshall, Daniel W. Guide to Marine Invertabrates: Alaska to Baja California. Sea Challangers. Monteray, CA. 1994

Kozloff, Eugene N. Marine Invertabrates of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 1999

Kozloff, Eugene N. Seashore life of the Northern Pacific Coast. University of Washington Press. Seattle, WA. 1993.

Prepared by Steph Doorly. May 2004.