Christmas Tree Feather Worm

Description:

Photo take at -40 ft on a coral reef another beauty found anchor to a grain coral this one has brown color inside the feathers and white on the outside. Beautiful orange and white edges feather worm anchored to a hard brain coral.. 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.

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.