A chunky, furry worm with shimmering bristles might sound like a strange sea creature that you’d only find in far-flung destinations, but they also inhabit UK shores.
Rye Harbour Discovery Centre recently gave a good example of this when they shared fascinating footage of a rare sea mouse that washed up at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in 2022.
"This furry creature is a sea mouse, a chunky marine worm. About 15cm long and rarely seen, but in winter, storms can wash them up on the high tide line,” says Sarah Watson, Events Officer at the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre.
“This one was found at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and put back in the sea.”
After the first five seconds, the video is sped up by three times, she says, because “sea mice are rather slow!"
Image and video: Barry Yates, Sussex Wildlife Trust
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