Rye Harbour Discovery Centre just shared fascinating footage of a rare sea mouse that washed ashore on the south coast of England during a storm in 2022.
Conservationists rescued the "chunky marine worm" and returned it to the sea.
“Look closely among its duller bristles to see a shimmering, iridescent fringe. It's been found that the sea mouse uses 'photonic engineering', a technology we’re only just getting to grips with,” says Sarah Watson, Events Officer at the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre.
“The bristles are structured to reflect light in a certain way, and it’s believed this colourful display deters predators on the dark seabed.”
Found around all UK coasts, the sea mouse (Aphrodita aculeata) is “a large furry creature – unlike anything else in the sea,” according to The Wildlife Trusts. “It is an oval-shaped worm covered in grey bristles, the edges fringed with iridescent bristles that appear blue, green and gold.”
Images and video: Barry Yates, Sussex Wildlife Trust
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