Christmas Tree Worms And Coral

Christmas tree worms come in a variety of bright colors.

Christmas tree worms and coral. They use their brightly colored radioles to filter microorganisms from the water which are then deposited straight into the worm s digestive tract. They are found throughout the tropical oceans including the caribbean and the indo pacific. The worms use their spiral tree like appendages called radioles for both respiration and to filter food from the water.

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. Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are found on coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide. They aren t very big averaging about 1 5 inches in length.

Up to two thirds of the worm is anchored in the coral when its plumes are visible. As sedentary inhabitants of coral reefs christmas tree worms feed primarily by filter feeding. Christmas tree worm is the common name for a marine worm that lives on tropical coral reefs around the world.

Fun facts about christmas tree worms. Christmas tree worms are a member of the spirobranchus genus of tube building annelid worms. Christmas tree worms fir tree like appendages are also used for respiration collecting oxygen from the currents.