Description: This small worm builds thin chalky tubes (0.5 mm diameter) on hard substrata which join together to form a dense colony that resembles a coral-like or a rope-like mesh. When the worms have their radioles (tentacles) extended the colony has a furry or fluffy appearance. The tips of the radioles are swollen. They have no operculum.

Habitat: Sublittorally on rocks or other hard substrata, occasionally reported from lower shore but this is rare.

Distribution: Recorded from all coasts of Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Resembles Filograna implexa but it tends to grow in shallow incrustations and not form the dense mesh like S. dysteri.

Key Identification Features:

• Forms a colony of thin chalky tubes with a dense mesh-like structure.
• No operculum.

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

iNaturalist: Salmacina dysteri at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Salmacina dysteri

WoRMS: Salmacina dysteri at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Salmacina dysteri (Huxley, 1855). AphiaID: 131038.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Annelida; Polychaeta; Sedentaria; Canalipalpata; Sabellida; Serpulidae; Filograninae; Salmacina