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Project Noah Nature School
Spirobranchus giganteus
Photo take at -40 ft on a coral reef, Beautiful orange yellow and white color feather worm anchor on a mustard hill 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.
Most of these worms is anchored in their burrows that they bore into live calcareous coral. Found on coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide.
Spotted on Dec 7, 2012
Submitted on Dec 7, 2012
38 Comments (1–25)
Estan preciosos los arbolitos de Navidad :-)
Thanks Karen, Ismael and Alice :)
Excelente foto gerardo
Wonderful spot Gerardo! Congratulations!
Congratulations! A beautiful picture!
Wow thanks so much guys :):)
Thansk Peter, Yasser and Karen and all the Rangers and friends and to the our beautiful Christmas Tree Feather Worm.
Thanks for your wonderful comments to all :):):)
super genial!! que lindo Gerardo
Congratulations Gerardo :) Brilliant!
You did it again.. Happy SOTD!
Congratulations, Gerardo - I love your spottings of these feather worms! One of your other photos was the first time I had seen one.
U have amazing spots. I never tire of looking at everything u photograph. Congratulations!
Congrats Gerardo!
Nice colours!
Very Nice Gerardo!
Congratulations on the SotD !
Congratulations for another well deserved SOTD, Gerardo. Your submarine photos are one of the highlights of PN.
Beautiful spotting, Gerardo. Congratulations on Spotting of the Day!
Congratulations :D
Congratulations Gerardo on this wonderful spotting and SOTD!
Congratulations Gerardo !!
This is so beautiful and clear. Congratulations!
Congratulations Gerardo on STOD Fantastic
Fantastic and congradulations Gerardo! Well deserved.
Congratulations!
Congratulations Gerardo.