Sandworm
This article is about the Annelid. For the creatures from Frank Herbert's "Dune" Novels, see sandworm (Dune).{{Taxobox
color = pink | name = Sandworm | | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Annelida | classis = Polychaeta | ordo = Phyllodocida | familia = Nereidae | genus = Nereis | species = N. virens | binomial = Nereis virens | binomial_authority = Sars, 1835
A sandworm is a Polychaete in the genus Nereis.
Sandworms make up a large part of the live seabait industry. "Sandworming", or the harvesting of sandworms from mudflats, employs over 1,000 people in Maine. The population of sandworms has diminished greatly over the past few years due in large part to overharvesting before the worms are able to "spawn" (or reproduce) again.
Sandworms have many distinguishable traits. They often reach great lengths, sometimes exceeding four feet. They have many small legs that run along both sides of their body. They also have blue heads with two large pincer teeth. They have been known to bite humans on occasion.
They eat seaweed and many microorganisms found in saltwater.
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