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Cartoon of Bootlace worm
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Bootlace worm

Lineus longissimus
Urchins, stars & worms๐Ÿงค Poison in its skinPoisonous, not venomous
Danger to people: MildLike a bee sting or less. Basically harmless to people.

Bootlace worm belongs to the group: Urchins, stars & worms. It lives in: The oceans.2

Poisonous or venomous? Venomous animals inject venom with a bite or a sting. Poisonous animals are harmful to touch or to eat. This one is poisonous.
Lives in
The oceans2
Length
10 m (33 ft)2
typical adult size
Top speed
about 0.3 km/h (0.19 mph)
Swimming, rough guess

Poison power

Poison in its skin

Its skin is poisonous. It is dangerous to touch, lick or eat.

How dangerous is it to people?

Danger to people: MildLike a bee sting or less. Basically harmless to people.

๐Ÿš‘ If someone touched or ate it

  • Put the wound in hot water, as hot as the person can stand without burning, and get medical help to remove spines. Do not dig for them yourself.

Always call your emergency number first (112, 000, 911). This is general first aid guidance, not medical advice. First aid basics

โ›‘๏ธ Stay safe

  • Never touch, catch or tease a wild animal, even a small one, and even if it looks asleep or dead.
  • Give it space. If you meet one, stay calm, step back slowly and let it go its own way.
  • If you touched or ate it: do not rub your eyes or mouth, wash your hands and get medical help.

It is not out to get you. Its poison is only there so that nothing eats it. More about staying safe

How big is it?

How long is it?

Bootlace worm about 10 m long (33 ft)A dog about 1 m (3.3 ft)A grown-up's bike about 1.8 m (5.9 ft)A car about 4.5 m (15 ft)
as long as 2 cars parked in a row

How big is Bootlace worm compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

How fast is it?

For venom experts

Scientific name
Lineus longissimus
Group
Urchins, stars & worms
Family
Lineidae1
Order
Heteronemertea
Continents
The oceans
Danger to people
1 / 5: Mild2

Where the facts come from

  1. Lineus longissimus (iNaturalist): names and classification.
  2. Venom Wiki: the danger level, the typical size and the speed guess are our own. See how we work them out: How we rate danger.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are animal fans, not a science journal. Tell us at hello@venomwiki.app and we will fix it.

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More from the same group: Urchins, stars & worms

Also lives in: The oceans

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