Christmas Tree Tube Worm

Christmas tree worm live on hard coral tube worm.

Christmas tree tube worm. They are a type of polychaete a group of segmented worms that contains over 13 000 species. These appendages are used to catch dinner floating by in the water usually microscopic plants and animals. Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are a type of polychaete a group of segmented worms that contains over 13 000 species.

Coral head covered by a variety of colorful christmas tree worms. Christmas tree worm spirobranchus giganteus living in a tube. The rest of the worm s body is in a tube in the coral which is formed after the larval worm settles on the coral and then the coral grows around the worm the worm s legs parapodia and bristles chatae protected within the tube are about twice as large as the portion of the worm visible.

The common name for these worms is derived from their appearance not their habitat or diet. They aren t very big averaging about 1 5 inches in length. As has become tradition here is our christmas special episode for 2018.

Christmas tree worms are named for their spindly fir tree like appearance. A special christmas tree tube worm. Their festive looking crowns protrude from their otherwise tube like body composed of radioles similar to hair appendages radiating from the worm s spines.

Coral reef scene with brain coral fire coral and christmas tree. Spirobranchus giganteus commonly known as the christmas tree worm is a tube building polychaete worm belonging to the family serpulidae. Christmas tree worms live inside corals where they hide from predators.

And just like their cousins the sea mice and feather. First of all the christmas tree worm really stands out from its many related species. You won t find spirobranchus giganteus also known as the christmas tree worm eating your fir tree this year.