Aphrodita

This strange, alien creature is the star discovery in today’s beach expedition. It first catches our attention when we glimpse an iridescent shape rolling gently back and forth in the shallows of the incoming tide. At first, I think it’s a shell, the iridescence nacre, but on closer inspection discover it’s a soft shell-less creature, helpless on its back. The iridescence comes from rows of fine hairs or chaeta which flush green and blue and orange in the sunlight. It is extraordinary.

We try to right it, but the waves undo our work. I place it gently on a rock, its white underbelly now replaced by a muddy brown back.  Gradually, it starts to raise its head, quizzically - if anthropomorphism extends to such strange creatures. 

We have never seen its like before - but think it may be a sea slug. 

Back home I turn to research and at last discover it’s an ‘Aphrodita’. Whilst its iridescence is mesmerising, it seems strange to name it after the Greek goddess of love, and the English name of ‘sea mouse’ may be more appropriate. It is, in fact, a worm, and lives in muddy sand in deep sea areas, occasionally being washed ashore by storms. Every day’s a school day .....

We place our little sea mouse carefully in the sea, hoping it  - they are hermaphrodites - will find its way safely back to its ocean home. 

As an extra, there are two full-length views - one upside down as we first discovered it, the other righted.