Description: This striking worm has beautiful tentacles that when extended form a twin or double spiral. They can range from all white in colour to brown and white banded. They live in smooth grey to brown tubes made up of mucus and mud, with a distinctive fold or pinch at the opening, allowing a reliable identification even if the animal itself is not visible. They are very sensitive to changes in light and will readily retract into their tubes if they sense any disturbance nearby.

Habitat: Lives crevices in rock or occasionally in wrecks. Usually in groups.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland, but seems to be much more rarely recorded on east coast of Britain.

Similar Species: Unlikely to be confused with any other species, this is the only worm with a twin fan or spiral of tentacles.

Key Identification Features:

• Twin spiral of tentacles.
• Large crown of white to white and brown banded tentacles.
• Very sensitive and retracts easily.
• Distinctive pinch/fold at opening of tube.
• Often found in aggregations.

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

iNaturalist: Bispira volutacornis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Bispira volutacornis

WoRMS: Bispira volutacornis at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Bispira volutacornis (Montagu, 1804). AphiaID: 130875.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Annelida; Polychaeta; Sedentaria; Canalipalpata; Sabellida; Sabellidae; Sabellinae; Bispira