Sea mouse

Sea mouse

This strange furry creature often found washed ashore after storms is actually a kind of worm!

Enw gwyddonol

Aphrodita aculeata

Pryd i'w gweld

January to December

Species information

Ystadegau

Length: Average 7-15cm, rarely up to 30cm
Width: Up to 6cm
Common

Cynefinoedd

Ynghylch

The sea mouse is marine worm. Its body is covered in bristles - giving it a furry appearance. At the fringes are beautiful iridescent bristles that shimmer blue, green and gold. The sea mouse is an active predator, hunting small crabs and other worms on the seabed.

Sut i'w hadnabod

A large furry creature - unlike anything else in the sea. It is an oval shaped worm covered in grey bristles, the edges fringed with iridescent bristles that appear blue, green and gold.

Dosbarthiad

Found around all UK coasts.

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

The sea mouse gets its scientific name from Aphrodite - the Greek Goddess of Love.