Christmas Tree Worm Native

Hammerhead worms are native to tropical and subtropical regions but have become invasive worldwide.

Christmas tree worm native. Christmas tree worm native habitat distribution behavior aquarium compatibility. Giganteus is commonly found embedded entirely in heads of massive corals such as stony corals porites and brain corals. During a study of the host range of the christmas tree worm spirobranchus giganteus pallas 1766 at curaçao southern caribbean the non native t.

The common name for these worms is derived from their appearance not their habitat or diet. The hammerhead worm has a long flattened body and a broad head. It s believed the planarians were accidentally transported and distributed on rooted horticultural plants.

The deepest record concerns a colony of madracis pharensis heller 1868 at39mdepth site3intable1 nine of the 26 coral species represent new host records for spirobranchus giganteus whereas four previously recorded associations were not found in the present study table 2. You won t find spirobranchus giganteus also known as the christmas tree worm eating your fir tree this year. Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are found on coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide.

Up close with nature getty images distribution and habitat. Christmas tree worms are widely distributed throughout the world s tropical oceans. The christmas tree worm or as it is sometimes referred to as the jewel stone is a small filter feeding invertebrate with a wide variety of colors.

They have been known to occur from the caribbean to the indo pacific. Species were observed with associated christmas tree worms table 2. The owl that stowed away in the christmas tree erected at.

Feeding behavior ecology 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. Coccinea was discovered to act as host among several other newly recorded host species. The tree may grow to 10 metres 33 feet or more and produces many yellow orange flowers during the christmas season.