Bulla occidentalis A. Adams, 1850 Western Striate Bubble And Fireworm Preadator

    During a previous dive the photographer observed a "Red-Tipped Fireworm" Chloeia viridis Schmarda, 1861 (class polychaeta) capture and devour a living Bulla occidentalis - an event that was not photographically chronicled. During a subsequent dive the photographer again discovered a fireworm searching for a Bulla occidentalis meal by inserting its head into a shell on the substrate. However, when no meal was forthcoming, the photographer removed the shell, verified that it was already empty, and replaced it on the substrate where once again the fireworm inserted its head into the shell in search of sustenance.

Bulla occidentalis A. Adams, 1850 Western Striate Bubble And Fireworm Preadator

    Photographed by Anne DuPont while SCUBA diving at Lake Worth Lagoon near Peanut Island, Palm Beach Inlet, Palm Beach Co., Florida 5/26/2010 | Underwater photograph copyright 2010 by Anne DuPont (Delray Beach, FL).