New species recorded in Reserve

Whilst diving in the VMR over August Bank Holiday weekend, underwater photographer, Stephen Judd, spotted a rather pretty looking little worm. He snapped off a few shots to help him ID it when he got back to the surface and it was lucky he did as it turned out to be a first for the Reserve!

The scientific name for the worm is Myrianida pinnigera which the literature states is normally only found in the South West of Britain. However, there is a finger of the Gulf Stream that brings some warm water species to us here at St Abbs and even to the Farnes Islands further south. This is only the second record of this species on the East Coast of Britain, the first record being at the Farnes in 2005.

So, it is always worth keeping your eyes peeled for something unusual. If you do see something you are not sure about in the Reserve please drop us an e-mail and preferably a photo too, and who knows, you could have your name up in lights just like Stephen!