Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia
King Ragworm Neanthes virens
The king ragworm is a large worm that has strong jaws that are easily capable of delivering a painful bite to a human. The jaws are pushed out on an eversible proboscis and are used for pulling food into its mouth as well as for defending itself. The king ragworm lives in a mucus-lined burrow in the sand, and waits for the tide to come in before coming out to feed. It swims well by bending its long body into a series of S-shaped curves. Fishermen collect king ragworms for bait.
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- Class Polychaeta
- Length Up to 20 in (50 cm)
- Depth Shore and shallows
- Habitat Muddy sand
- Distribution Temperate coastal waters of northeastern and northwestern Atlantic
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