another one 

the oral part 

It reminds a small/juvenile priapulid worm in retracted state. Considering the size and the body without appendages, it should belong to Halicryptus genus (possibly H. spinulosus). You should check external morphology and inner anatomy for clarity.

Hello Mohamed,

This specimen appears as though it was slightly damaged mid-way along the body. It looks like an echiurid with its proboscis retracted. Look at the posterior end for setae. I am not familiar with echiurids in your region, but I have attached a photo resembling yours (larger, though). I do not believe this to be a priapulid (Halicryptus). Good luck with your identification.

-Tom

Hi Mohamed,

I agree with Tom. It looks somewhat similar to a species of Listriolobus we used to see in southern California.  Good Luck.

Pete

thanks tom and peter, i also think that you are right

cause The anterior end of echiuran worms has two hooked setae on the ventral side

I wont disagree with echiuran ID. Only feature apparent with the worm is the mouth which is slit like, not round like priapulids that I saw and read. Is it consistent with Urechis you sent Tom?

It seem also the body surface is annulated and the body is supported by circular muscles, giving constricted apparence. This may be consistent with Trochozoan body shape.

However, the body is very small as compared to very few echiurans of Mediterranean. Would it be a robust male of some species?

Dear Ümit,

The hooked setae that Mohamed observed are definitive characteristics for many echiurans. These animals have circular muscles that assist during burrowing, as shallow and undefined as the burrows may be. The obvious annulated appearance and shape of the mouth might be the result of preservation. The proboscis may have broken off during collection (dredge?), if it is not retracted as I suggested. The size might indicate that this is not a full-sized adult specimen. I have attached a very old publication on North American species where more information on Echiuris sp. can be found. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Mediterranean species.

I hope this helps to answer some questions,

Tom

Dear Mohamed,

This might be a specimen of Thalassema thalassemum. I would check your local keys. Please let me know what you find.

Tom

Biological Bulletin, Volume I No. 4, July 1900!

Tom, Do you have a Time Machine stashed away at Suffolk?  That paper is ancient.

Hi Peter,

Duly noted and as said "very old." Ancient would be midden material ;) But I do find these papers to be full of observations that "modern" publications lack due to current standards and often lead to clues worth following when starting a project. I'll also add their worth for assessing what was and what is now. One would be hard pressed to find any echiurans on the Maine coast today -mussel dragging likely the greatest culprit.

Oh, the time machine is the Marine Biological Library in Woods Hole, but if you are looking for a cherished hard copy, one might be hard pressed since the library also fallen prey to "modern" standards due to lack of space in the stacks. It is a limited space library with no hope of expansion. But not to give modernization a bad rap - digitization has made available so many of these old papers to so many more people :)

Thank you very much Dear. Tom

Best Regards

Thank you very much Dear. Umit

Best Regards