We've gone years without encountering this worm, and then during the last few weeks we've found two. Quite a beauty, isn't it?
For documentation, Eric took these first two images through a microscope. The entire worm was ~3-4 cm (~1-1.5 inches) long.
In-tro-duc-ing Eteone pacifica!
This is a type of paddleworm (Family Phyllodocidae). I haven't seen a common name for it, but I started calling it the "little leopard worm" because of the nice spot pattern.
Here are two photos from the field. This individual had a wonderful purplish color in the mid-section. [You can click on the images for larger versions.]
Many thanks to Leslie for assistance with the identification!
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