Pelagic worms, Eastern Pacific

Juvenile Terebellid Polychaete

Terebellid Polychaete
ID and comments thanks to Leslie Harris
"It's a juvenile terebellid polychaete (spaghetti worm), long past the point where the pelagic larvae normally settle onto the bottom. Many juveniles will only settle if they get specfic chemical or other environmental cues (like sensing the proper food or adults of the same species) so sometimes they'll stay up in the water column longer than normal."

3 miles off Redondo Beach, California

20130223Juvenile Terebellid Polychaete