Species profile
Blood Worm
Glycera dibranchiata
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
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.