Species profile
Sand Worm
Alitta virens
At a glance
Sand Worm (Alitta virens) is an invertebrate with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 11 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Massachusetts, Quebec, and Maine the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Sandworms (Alitta virens) can grow up to 3 feet long, making them giants among polychaete worms.
- They have strong, eversible jaws capable of delivering a sharp, surprising pinch.
- They burrow in U-shaped tunnels through the sand and mud of intertidal flats.
- At spawning time they transform into free-swimming forms and swarm to the surface at night.
- They are one of the most widely used saltwater fishing baits on the U.S. East Coast.
Where Sand Worm are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Sand Worm
Background
Alitta virens (common names include sandworm and king ragworm; older scientific names including Nereis virens are still frequently used) is an annelid worm that burrows in wet sand and mud. It is classified as a polychaete in the family Nereididae .
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Sand 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.