What type of creature is this?

[AstusAleator]

Can you describe their swimming motion? Is it undulatory, using the thin part as a propeller, like a frog larva?

You should catch one. Yes I know that's nasty, but you should catch it and keep it in a jar and observe it.
This is pretty fascinating. So far I haven't been able to figure out what it is.

[AstusAleator]

Also, where do you live?

[Why,Why not]

thanks for replying.
Im not sure how they swim, normaly they just twist there bodies around and it dosen't seem to make them move anywhere. They don't seem to use there tales either, though i haven't actually seen one try to move accept i saw one float up to the surface but I didn't really pay much attention to how it surfaced . I live in british columbia (canada), on an island inbetween vancouver and victoria. its mostly warm up her accept it can get very windy.
ill try and catch one asap but i have a bunch of work so i won't be able to reply till later.

[rg]

seein the picture and the segments on the body and the flagella i think it has metameric segmentation and hence may belong to phylum annelida(may be a larval state) or platuhelminthes.....not sure...probably since the picture doesnt reveal full details....

[Why,Why not]

I apologize for the pictures, I can't really get them from any angle accept from above. Im going to try catching one so perhaps i can get some better pics then.

thank you

[flint]

I believe that is a rat-tail maggot

the long tube coming off the main body is essentailly a snorkel, so that the maggot can breath while underwater

[Why,Why not]

Wow, I think my question was answered, thanks. I tried google searching rat-tail maoggot and i got some simalar photos. though they all seemed to look differen't(the images of the maggots) they probably are, thanks a bunch, now i can write a report on them because i know what they are .

[February Beetle]

Man, that is really gross.

[ptPablo]

it's two species. the first one is a monogene flatworm called Diplozooan paradoxum. the later one is a digene cercaria larva. shoot them.

[flint]

ptPablo if those are worm larvae would it be cause for alarm for the family?

[AstusAleator]

I believe that is a rat-tail maggot

the long tube coming off the main body is essentailly a snorkel, so that the maggot can breath while underwater

problem solved. thanks flint. Too bad we didn't discover a new species .

[Why,Why not]

Ya i agree, i was really exited about them, i wish they were a new speices.

What do you mean shoot them? I don't mean to sound rude but thats quite abscure. thanks guys.