Fireworm bristles. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fireworm's bristles (setae). Fireworms (family Amphinomidae) are polychaete (meani

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Fireworm bristles. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a fireworm's bristles (setae). Fireworms (family Amphinomidae) are polychaete (meaning many-bristled) worms. They are also named bristleworms, and are usually found in the sea. The setae are found at the end of the protrusions (parapodia) that line the body of the worm. The parapodia are used as paddles to swim in water, and also act as the worm's gills. The setae are made of the hard substance chitin, which also makes up the exoskeleton of insects. It is these setae that can penetrate human skin when touched, causing intense irritation.

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Size: 2894px × 3858px
Photo credit: © SUSUMU NISHINAGA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: amphinoid, amphinomidae, anatomical, anatomy, animal, annelid, bristle, bristles, bristleworm, coloured, duo, false-coloured, fauna, fireworm, hook, invertebrate, invertebrates, marine, nature, painful, pair, parapodia, parapodium, poisonous, polychaete, sem, setae, setum, spine, sting, wildlife, worm, zoological, zoology