Tangle of Orange-brown Worm-like Organisms is Potentially Seaweed

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“Is this a worm?” asks this reader in her submission regarding the orangish-brown, tangled organism pictured below. “And if so, what type is it?”

No context is provided along with her questions, and we have never seen anything like the organism in the photo. For these reasons, it will be impossible for us to provide an identification with 100% certainty. The closest thing it resembles is a deep-sea tangle, which is a species of seaweed. Yet, given that they grow far down in the ocean, we doubt that is what these are. Of course, seaweed like this could possibly wash ashore, but we also cannot assume that this is a possibility, because we do not know if our reader has access to the ocean and if this is where the organism was found.

It is for this reason that context is so important: if our reader had said they found this at the beach and are curious about it, we would immediately be able to say, with confidence, that it likely was some type of seaweed from the ocean, but alas, we cannot say anything with certainty.

Now, if it was to be a worm, we have no idea what it could be. Our best guess would be that it was a tangle of worms. The best known worms to do this are tubifex worms (also known as sludge worms, sewer worms, or tubificid worms), but they are a dark red color, and are much thinner than these. When they congregate, there are far more worms at one time, and they form a pile which from afar would resemble wet minced meat, or maybe a brain.

Altogether, there is not much of value we can say about this, as we know nothing about it. If our reader wants us to have another go at identifying the worms, then we ask them to send as much context over as they can. Alternatively, they can take this organism to their local county extension office to have it physically examined: they might have a better chance at identifying it. But even in this case, it is advisable that she provides them with as much context as possible.

To conclude, we do not know what this is, or if it is indeed a worm or a tangle of worms. We wish we could help our reader more, but more context would be needed. We wish her the very best.

 

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Summary
Tangle of Orange-brown Worm-like Organisms is Potentially Seaweed
Article Name
Tangle of Orange-brown Worm-like Organisms is Potentially Seaweed
Description
"Is this a worm?" asks this reader in her submission regarding the orangish-brown, tangled organism pictured below. "And if so, what type is it?"
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Author: Worm Researcher Anton

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