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Christmas Tree Feather Worm

Spirobranchus giganteus

Description:

Photo take at -40 ft on a coral reef another beauty found anchor to a brain coral this one has brown red colors.Christmas tree-shaped tube-dwelling worms with magnificent twin spirals of plumes used for feeding and respiration. These cone-shaped worms are one of the most widely recognized sedentary polychaete worms . They come in many colors including orange, yellow, blue, and white and, though they are small with an average 3.8 cm in span, they are easily spotted due to their shape, beauty, and color. The colorful plumes, or tentacles, are used for passive feeding on suspended food particles and plankton in the water. The plumes are also used for respiration.They are very sensitive to disturbances and will rapidly retract into their burrows at the slightest touch or passing shadow. Marinerio.

Habitat:

Most of these worms is anchored in their burrows that they bore into live calcareous coral. Found on coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide.


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3 Comments

AntónioGinjaGinja
AntónioGinjaGinja 10 months ago

Wow,beautiful Gerardo,super background and the cristmas tree is absolutly a "impossible" organism :) you make a great work as usual,congrats

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 months ago

Thanks Ava :)

Ava T-B
Ava T-B 11 months ago

Spectacular!

Mexico

Lat: 20.85, Long: -86.88

Spotted on Jun 23, 2012
Submitted on Jun 23, 2012

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