Christmas Tree Worm Characteristics

Their menu consists of planktons ciliates and organic detritus.

Christmas tree worm characteristics. They are some of the most widely recognized polychaetes or marine burrowing segmented worms out there. Each spiral is composed of feather like tentacles called radioles which are heavily ciliated and cause any prey. These are highly modified prostomial palps which are specialized mouth appendages.

Christmas tree worms come in a variety of bright colors. The worms most distinct features are two crowns shaped like christmas trees. They aren t very big averaging about 1 5 inches in length.

Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are an abundant denizen of tropical reefs around the globe and the extravagant spiraling gills that are its namesake provide bursts of vibrant color to the reef landscape. Invertebrate average life cycle. However because of their distinctive shape beauty and color these worms are easily spotted.

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. They filter the small microorganisms from the water by trapping on their plumes and deposit straight into the digestive tract. These colors can be very vivid and for many specimens the color will be brought out under high intensity lighting.

They come in many attractive colors including green blue golden yellow yellow purple and pink. Up to 40 years in ideal unpolluted habitat. A wildly colored pair of tapering feathery spires.

Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are polychaete ciliary feeders that feed using their radioles the hair like appendages or feathers that circle outward from the central spine to catch phytoplankton floating by in the water. This widespread marine worm spirobranchus giganteus gets its holiday nickname from its gills. Population currently stable threats.