Blue Christmas Tree Worm

Fun facts about christmas tree worms.

Blue christmas tree worm. Christmas tree worms have been found burrowing into giant clams instead of coral. The food is then passed down a food groove by ciliary tracts lines of tiny hair like extensions on the surface of cells that generate water currents to move food or mucus. These animals can be a variety of colors including red orange yellow blue and white.

Christmas tree worms average only about 1 5 inches in length. Because it does not move outside its tube this worm does not have any specialized appendages for movement or swimming. You won t find spirobranchus giganteus also known as the christmas tree worm eating your fir tree this year.

The christmas tree shape shown in the image is the animal s radioles which can be up to about 1 1 2 inches in diameter. Up to two thirds of the worm is anchored in the coral when its plumes are visible. They aren t very big averaging about 1 5 inches in length.

The christmas tree worm is a colorful marine worm with beautiful spiraling plumes that resemble a fir tree. It has a tubular segmented body of an approximate length of 3 8 cm 1 5 in covered with chaetae small appendages that aid the worm s mobility. The common name for these worms is derived from their appearance not their habitat or diet.

The worms most distinct features are two crowns shaped like christmas trees. Each worm has two brightly colored crowns that protrude from its tube like body.