Species profile
Blood Worm
Glycera dibranchiata
Identify Blood Worm (Glycera dibranchiata) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Blood Worm (Glycera dibranchiata) is an invertebrate present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 15 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Their four jaws contain atacamite, a hard copper-based mineral, making them sharp enough to pierce skin.
- Can reach up to 15 inches (38 cm) in length.
- Harvested commercially in Maine and sold nationwide as a top-performing live fishing bait.
- They evert a proboscis to bite, which can surprise inexperienced bait handlers.
- Live in burrows in intertidal mudflats along the Atlantic coast.
Where Blood Worm are seen
Background
Glycera dibranchiata, also known as one variant of bloodworm, are segmented, red marine worms that grow up to 14-inches in length and have unique copper teeth made up of a mixture of protein, melanin and 10% copper. This copper concentration is the highest among any animal.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Blood Worm article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other invertebrates on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Blood Worm?
Blood Worm (Glycera dibranchiata) is an invertebrate present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Blood Worm?
Blood Worm is Glycera dibranchiata.
Are there fishing rules for Blood Worm?
Blood Worm does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Blood Worm?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Blood Worm along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.