Aphrodita: The Spiky Sea Worm

ocean worms · sea creatures · weird animals

Lives deep down. Aphrodita worms are found in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, hanging out in the deep, dark parts of the water where sunlight never reaches.

Covered in spikes. These worms have long, pointy bristles covering their bodies that stick out like a underwater hedgehog. The spikes help them move through the mud and sand on the ocean floor.

Special name origin. The genus is named Aphrodita after the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty, though these worms are definitely more alien-looking than beautiful!

Segmented body plan. Like all polychaete worms, Aphrodita has a body divided into many ring-shaped segments, kind of like a train made of tiny circles stacked together.