Invasion

Invasion Description

1st Record: Cayucos, San Luis Opisbo County/CA/Pacific Ocean (Culver and Kuris 1999) This sabellid polychaete was introduced with South African abalones at an aquaculture facility near Cayucos CA, and began infesting native abalones (Haliotus rufescens) and other gastropods (primarily Tegula funebralis (Black Turban Snail). An eradication was begun in 1996, by removing infected animals in order to break the chain of transmission. 1.6 million snails were removed.The polychaete was apparently eradicated by April 1998 (Culver and Kuris 1999). A survey of shoreline mollusks adjacent to 25 other California abalone aquaculture facilities, from Crescent City to La Jolla, found no other cases of T. heterouncinata escaping from culture operations (Moore et al. 2007).

Geographic Extent

1st Record: Cayucos, San Luis Opisbo County/CA/Pacific Ocean (Culver and Kuris 1999)