Christmas Tree Tube Worm

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.

Christmas tree tube worm. First of all the christmas tree worm really stands out from its many related species. Each worm has two of these plumes which are used for feeding and respiration. Each worm has two brightly colored crowns that protrude from its tube like body.

Spirobranchus giganteus commonly known as the christmas tree worm is a tube building polychaete worm belonging to the family serpulidae. A special christmas tree tube worm. Christmas tree worm spirobranchus giganteus.

As has become tradition here is our christmas special episode for 2018. Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are a type of polychaete a group of segmented worms that contains over 13 000 species. Christmas tree worm spirobranchus giganteus living in a tube.

Learn more in our marine life encyclopedia at oceana org marine life subscribe to our. To celebrate the holidays we re taking a look at a very festive kind of bristle wor. The spirobranchus giganteus better known as christmas tree worm can be found in many coral reefs around the world.

Christmas tree worms are named for their spindly fir tree like appearance. Christmas tree worm live on hard coral tube worm. The creature remains a particularly fascinating specimen of a tube building polychaete worm for a specific reason.

Its common name derives from its obvious resemblance to a christmas tree. They aren t very big averaging about 1 5 inches in length. And just like their cousins the sea mice and feather.