The Lugworm (Arenicola marina) is a large marine worm. While the animal is rarely seen, its coiled castings are a familiar sight on a beach at low tide. They live in U-shaped burrows in the sand, and they feed on organic material like micro-organisms and detritus in the sediment. The sediment is ingested in the burrow, which leaves a depression on the surface of the sand. The Lugworm resembles a typical annelid with a ringed or segmented body, a blackish-red hue on its head end, a middle segment with bristles along the sides, and pairs of feathery gills.
The Lugworm has an overall length between 3.94”-11.81” (10-30 cm), diameter of 3.54”-3.94” (9-10 cm), and weight of .002-.003 lb (1-1.5 g). The typical lifespan of the Lugworm is between 5-6 years.
The Lugworm (Arenicola marina) is a large marine worm. While the animal is rarely seen, its coiled castings are a familiar sight on a beach at low tide. They live in U-shaped burrows in the sand, and they feed on organic material like micro-organisms and detritus in the sediment. The sediment is ingested in the burrow, which leaves a depression on the surface of the sand. The Lugworm resembles a typical annelid with a ringed or segmented body, a blackish-red hue on its head end, a middle segment with bristles along the sides, and pairs of feathery gills.
The Lugworm has an overall length between 3.94”-11.81” (10-30 cm), diameter of 3.54”-3.94” (9-10 cm), and weight of .002-.003 lb (1-1.5 g). The typical lifespan of the Lugworm is between 5-6 years.
