Christmas Tree Worm

Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus)

christmas-tree-worm-spirobranchus-giganteus-jm-02

Observed: Koh Chang Reefs, December 2015
Observed By: Jonathan Milnes

The brightly-coloured spiral-bodied christmas tree worm is a type of tube-building polchaete worm.

These worms live inside rocky tubes that they build withing coral structures. They emerge from these tubes to feed, gathering in microorganisms using their tree-like array. When threatened though they whip rapidly back into their rocky home and disappear in a flash. A fun sight for divers and snorkellers.

Christmas Tree Worm Wikipedia

 

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