Portobello Marine Laboratory

The Portobello Marine Laboratory was first established in 1904 as a fish hatchery. Since that time laboratory developments have seen this grow to busy research laboratory, with an attached Marine Studies Centre and Aquarium.

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Feature Animal - Siglionidae

This polychaete (bristle) worm came from sand collected near the little kelp forest by the Mole, Otago Harbour Entrance. In this photo you can see it shooting out its mouth and jaws as if to capture prey. As an active predator and scavenger, it crawls along the surface of sand and rocks with hairy, paddle-like feet. Its delicate gills and body are protected by a series of armour plates along its back.