Christmas Tree Worm Body

Christmas tree worms average only about 1 5 inches in length.

Christmas tree worm body. 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. Because it does not move outside its tube this worm does not have any specialized appendages for movement or swimming.

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

Typically the only part of the christmas tree worm visible is the crown which spirals downward similar in shape to a christmas tree the body of this species is hidden underneath the colorful crown. The christmas tree worm is normally found in the aquarium store as several individuals attached to a small piece of rock or live rock rubble. Each worm has two of these plumes which are used for feeding and respiration.

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. Christmas tree worms fir tree like appendages are also used for respiration collecting oxygen from the currents. Christmas tree worms have been found burrowing into giant clams instead of coral.

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.