What is a lugworm?
Q: What is a lugworm?
A: A lugworm (Arenicola marina) is a large marine worm of the phylum Annelida. It is also known as the sandworm and can be found making coiled tubes of sand on beaches at low tide.
Q: How big can a lugworm grow?
A: Lugworms can grow to about 5 inches long (13 cm).
Q: What does the body of a lugworm look like?
A: The body of a lugworm is segmented, like that of an earthworm, and has bristles in the middle. It also has well-developed blood-vessels, and gills to breathe in the water.
Q: Where does a lugworm live?
A: Lugworms live in U-shaped tubes in the sand, and filter out their food from the water.
Q: Is there more than one species of lugworms?
A: Yes, there is another species called Arenicola defodiens which lives a similar life but grows to about 9 inches long (23 cm).
Q: What does a young lugworm look like?
A: A young lugworm looks like it would when it's living in its burrow - segmented with bristles down its middle.
Q: What does a simplified cross section of a lug worm burrow look like?
A: A simplified cross section of a lug worm burrow looks like an U-shaped tube with small ridges along its walls where food particles are filtered out from passing water.
