Ruby Osedax [Osedax rubiplumus]
Description
Osedax rubiplumus, or Ruby Osedax, is a marine worm known for its bizarre method of survival. It burrows into the bones of dead whales on the ocean floor, where it consumes lipids. The species is characterized by a trunk from which a rosette of red gills extends, earning it its name. Male and female individuals are vastly different in size, with males being microscopic and females measuring up to several centimeters long. The males live inside the lumen of the female's gelatinous tube, with one female hosting hundreds of males.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Segmented Worms
Annelida
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Polychaetes
Polychaeta
|
| Order |
Canalipalpata
Canalipalpata
|
| Family |
Siboglinids
Siboglinidae
|
| Genus |
Osedax
Osedax
|