Info
Fireworms (Amphinomidae) are polychaetous worms covered with bristles that secrete neurotoxins that cause a painful burning sensation in the area of contact with the skin.
The secretion of neurotoxins is a defensive measure to deter predators, but it is extremely unpleasant to step on the worms.
Please be sure to wear bathing shoes in the areas where the fireworm occurs to avoid painful contact with the worm's chaetae!
This fireworm was formerly known as Chloeia parva.
Chloeia incerta is pale yellow in life and has a Y-shaped dark pigmentation in the middle of the back on each segment.
Etymology
There is no information on the naming, but the name Chloeia incerta is obviously derived from the Latin "incertus -a -um", which means "unstable, uncertain, doubtful".
Apparently it was Quatrefages (first describer) who was uncertain, as he comments on both the variations in the specimens and the wide geographical range of the species.
In reality, according to Salazar-Vallejo (2023), the variation was due to the fact that his Chloeia incerta specimens belonged to four species.
Synonyms:
Chloeia merguinensis Beddard, 1889 - unaccepted (subjective synonym)
Chloeia parva Baird, 1868 - unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Synonyms:
Chloeia merguinensis Beddard, 1889 · unaccepted (subjective synonym)
Chloeia parva Baird, 1868 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
The secretion of neurotoxins is a defensive measure to deter predators, but it is extremely unpleasant to step on the worms.
Please be sure to wear bathing shoes in the areas where the fireworm occurs to avoid painful contact with the worm's chaetae!
This fireworm was formerly known as Chloeia parva.
Chloeia incerta is pale yellow in life and has a Y-shaped dark pigmentation in the middle of the back on each segment.
Etymology
There is no information on the naming, but the name Chloeia incerta is obviously derived from the Latin "incertus -a -um", which means "unstable, uncertain, doubtful".
Apparently it was Quatrefages (first describer) who was uncertain, as he comments on both the variations in the specimens and the wide geographical range of the species.
In reality, according to Salazar-Vallejo (2023), the variation was due to the fact that his Chloeia incerta specimens belonged to four species.
Synonyms:
Chloeia merguinensis Beddard, 1889 - unaccepted (subjective synonym)
Chloeia parva Baird, 1868 - unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Synonyms:
Chloeia merguinensis Beddard, 1889 · unaccepted (subjective synonym)
Chloeia parva Baird, 1868 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
