Description: The body of this scale worm is 30-50 mm long with a mottled grey-black, blue-grey or brown-purple colouration, with some metallic hints. Elytra look smooth but are covered with small tubercles and fringed with short hairs. They may have a dark centre surrounded by lighter spots, or a chestnut-coloured band with white on either side. Larger animals may have a row of stalked nodules on their hind margin.

Habitat: Found from low water to subtidal. Often in kelp holdfasts or in the tubes of other worms (e.g. terebellids), seems to prefer stony or shelly substrates.

Distribution: Recorded from most coasts around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: There are various other scale worms that can be easily confused. Careful inspection of key features (e.g. number of body segments, and elytra etc) and use of a specialist identification guide may be required.

Key Identification Features:

• Elytra grey to dark brown, with purple or metallic sheen.
• Fairly large scale worm (up to 50 mm).
• Mottled grey-black, blue-grey or brown-purple colour.

Distribution Map from NBN: Harmothoe imbricata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Harmothoe imbricata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Harmothoe imbricata

WoRMS: Harmothoe imbricata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Harmothoe imbricata (Linnaeus, 1767). AphiaID: 130769.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Annelida; Polychaeta; Errantia; Phyllodocida; Aphroditiformia; Polynoidae; Polynoinae; Harmothoe