These larvae are not worms, but rather tiny snails in their free-swimming, larval stage. They have a distinctive, oval-shaped body with a prominent ciliated band that helps them swim and feed. They are incredibly tiny, usually just a few millimeters long, making them appear worm-like to the naked eye.
Here's why they look worm-like:
* Lack of Shell: Veliger larvae haven't yet developed their hard, coiled shell. They only have a thin, transparent shell called a protoconch.
* Tiny Size: Their size, coupled with their soft bodies, makes them appear similar to worms.
* Swimming Motion: Their swimming motion using cilia can also resemble the movement of some worms.
As the veliger larvae grow, they will develop their characteristic snail shell and eventually settle down to a life of crawling and feeding.
It's important to note that veliger larvae are very delicate and require specific conditions to survive, such as the right temperature and water quality.