Dr Rachel Hale Marine Biologist
@seafloorscience.bsky.social
Dr of small crawly things that live on the ocean floor.
I study what they do, how they do it, and how they respond to disturbance, including climate change.
Marine Biologist, Ocean Optimist, Invert Advocate, "Worm Girl"
Opinions mine. She/her
I study what they do, how they do it, and how they respond to disturbance, including climate change.
Marine Biologist, Ocean Optimist, Invert Advocate, "Worm Girl"
Opinions mine. She/her
Bit late for #SundayFishSketch (and not a sketch, and not finished), but it is (or will be, eventually) an Opah! But boy is it taking forever.
October 27, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Bit late for #SundayFishSketch (and not a sketch, and not finished), but it is (or will be, eventually) an Opah! But boy is it taking forever.
Can just about make out some antennae/tentacles as it retreats.
Tube looks...fleshy?
Tube looks...fleshy?
October 14, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Can just about make out some antennae/tentacles as it retreats.
Tube looks...fleshy?
Tube looks...fleshy?
An abundance of eels at the bottom of my road!
October 6, 2025 at 10:36 PM
An abundance of eels at the bottom of my road!
Science needs this kind of sponsorship. I am 100% open to posing with cheese or really most foods in exchange for social media posts, large logos on conferences presentations, and copiously talking about said food.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
September 15, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Science needs this kind of sponsorship. I am 100% open to posing with cheese or really most foods in exchange for social media posts, large logos on conferences presentations, and copiously talking about said food.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
Call me anytime. DMs are open.
These worm reefs can be large (over 2 m wide). Look for them in the lower intertidal area.
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
These worm reefs can be large (over 2 m wide). Look for them in the lower intertidal area.
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
📸 r_rombach, Parque Natural do Litoral Norte via @inaturalist.bsky.social
Ok, back to the worms!
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
September 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Ok, back to the worms!
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
Meet Sabellaria alveolata. This beautiful polychaete worm has a golden crown.
This worm is also know as the honeycomb worm for the honeycomb like tubes they create in aggregations.
📸Auguste La Roux, Catherine Boyen
And I made a new friend
September 9, 2025 at 8:08 AM
And I made a new friend
Was frosty in the morning though!
September 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Was frosty in the morning though!
This anemone is doing the most. Looking fabulous.
September 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This anemone is doing the most. Looking fabulous.
Spring is springing in Christchurch. And there's a worm (definitely a worm and not a snake) wrapped around a lamppost!
September 1, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Spring is springing in Christchurch. And there's a worm (definitely a worm and not a snake) wrapped around a lamppost!
😂 yeah he's hard to see. I didn't see him (just his burrows) for a long time. The filtered pic is easier to see!
August 31, 2025 at 6:24 PM
😂 yeah he's hard to see. I didn't see him (just his burrows) for a long time. The filtered pic is easier to see!
Hello fren! My experimental companion these last 3 months 🦀
August 31, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Hello fren! My experimental companion these last 3 months 🦀
I dunno...!
August 30, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I dunno...!
Stupid fish is taking ages. Fish are the worst. It was a mistake to do a vertebrate.
(It's a present for a friend)
(It's a present for a friend)
August 29, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Stupid fish is taking ages. Fish are the worst. It was a mistake to do a vertebrate.
(It's a present for a friend)
(It's a present for a friend)
3 years to get the funding
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
August 28, 2025 at 12:02 AM
3 years to get the funding
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
2 years of prep before the experiment
3 months experimental incubation
2 weeks intensive sampling
Followed by months/years of sample and data analysis
Then writing papers and presentations to disseminate.
Science is a long game.
🧪
I want many
August 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I want many
A close up of the shovel-like head.
📸 Hans Hillewaert
📸 Hans Hillewaert
August 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
A close up of the shovel-like head.
📸 Hans Hillewaert
📸 Hans Hillewaert
Magelona johnstoni. A shovelhead worm. A burrower in muddy sediment the shovel shaped head helps them move through the mud and the palps (the long tentacles coming off the head) are used for feeding.
📸Hans Hillewaert
📸Hans Hillewaert
August 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Magelona johnstoni. A shovelhead worm. A burrower in muddy sediment the shovel shaped head helps them move through the mud and the palps (the long tentacles coming off the head) are used for feeding.
📸Hans Hillewaert
📸Hans Hillewaert
Actually the other things seem less threatening than other stuff in the book!
August 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Actually the other things seem less threatening than other stuff in the book!
Or one of the ominous "Other things"
August 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Or one of the ominous "Other things"
An alluring pork and pineapple curry?
August 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
An alluring pork and pineapple curry?
Found the recipe book that goes with the slow cooker we inherited from my parents (no idea how old and still works). What gem should I make first...?
August 22, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Found the recipe book that goes with the slow cooker we inherited from my parents (no idea how old and still works). What gem should I make first...?
It has twelve tentacles on its "snout" (#goals) and lives in a mud constructed tube. Living the dream.
📸Tom Alvestad, Katrine Kongshavn
📸Tom Alvestad, Katrine Kongshavn
August 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
It has twelve tentacles on its "snout" (#goals) and lives in a mud constructed tube. Living the dream.
📸Tom Alvestad, Katrine Kongshavn
📸Tom Alvestad, Katrine Kongshavn
Melinna palmata. A surface deposit feeding terebellid worm that lives in the mud. This species creates (relatively) large faecal casts that are important to support other animals and the microbes living in the sediment.
📸Andrea Bonifaci
🦑🐙🌏🌊
📸Andrea Bonifaci
🦑🐙🌏🌊
August 22, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Melinna palmata. A surface deposit feeding terebellid worm that lives in the mud. This species creates (relatively) large faecal casts that are important to support other animals and the microbes living in the sediment.
📸Andrea Bonifaci
🦑🐙🌏🌊
📸Andrea Bonifaci
🦑🐙🌏🌊