Christmas Tree Worm [Spirobranchus giganteus]
Description
The Christmas Tree Worm is a marine worm distributed throughout the world's tropical oceans. They are named for their brightly colored, spiral-shaped gills, which resemble a Christmas tree. They embed themselves in hard corals and extend their 'trees' to catch plankton and other small particles for food.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Polychaetes
Polychaeta
|
| Order |
Canalipalpata
Canalipalpata
|
| Family |
Glycerids
Glyceridae
|
| Genus |
Bristle Worms
Hemipodus
|