CSIRO Science Image

Sabella spallanzanii is a large tube-dwelling worm with a tough, flexible tube that can reach up to 400 mm in length and 12 mm indiameter. Sabella is a native of the Mediterranean and east Atlantic coasts from north west France to Morocco. Sabella is regarded as a pest because of its capacity to foul hard surfaces including rocky reefs, commercialshellfish and a wide range of man-made structures. Sabella was first collected in Australian waters in 1967 at Oyster Harbour, near Albany in Western Australia. It is now found in areas of WA, SA, Victoria and northern Tasmania.

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