Red Feather-headed Worm [Sabellastarte indica]
Description
The Red Feather-headed Worm, also known as the Indian Feather Duster, is a large, tube-dwelling worm. It has a feathery crown of radioles, which are used for respiration and to catch food particles from the water. The worm is red in color, often with white bands. It lives in a tube that it builds from mucus and sediment particles. It can retract into its tube when threatened. It is commonly found in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, particularly in reef environments.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Polychaetes
Polychaeta
|
| Order |
Aciculata
Aciculata
|
| Family |
Phyllodocids
Phyllodocidae
|
| Genus |
Feather-headed Worms
Eumida
|