Christmas Tree Worm Diagram

Overview page brief summary distribution physical description size identification resources ecology local distribution and habitats micro habitats and associations crypsis life history behaviour behaviour cyclicity morphology and physiology.

Christmas tree worm diagram. Christmas tree worm facts first of all the christmas tree worm really stands out from its many related species. Christopher de martini 2011 fact sheet. Christmas tree worms are not dangerous to humans and both male and female christmas tree worms exist. Spirobranchus giganteus the christmas tree worm is a polychaete that commonly burrows in corals in what is likely a commensalistic relationship gibbs 1969.

The creature remains a particularly fascinating specimen of a tube building polychaete worm for a specific reason. Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are found on coral reefs in tropical waters worldwide. Its common name derives from its obvious resemblance to a christmas tree. They reproduce by casting their eggs and sperm directly into the water.

Christmas tree worms have eyes in a really silly place says michael bok. Spirobranchus giganteus commonly known as the christmas tree worm is a tube building polychaete worm belonging to the family serpulidae anatomy and morphology. The polychaete may offer benefits to the coral host such as greater water circulation from filter feeding and nutrients from its waste ben tzvi et al. The christmas tree shape shown in the image is the animal s radioles which can be up to about 1 1 2 inches in diameter.

Christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are found on coral reefs in tropical waters around the world. Furthermore while it holds no importance to commercial fishing it nevertheless has its own. A wildly colored pair of tapering feathery spires they stick up from the top of the worm s buried retreat like the ornamental trees. Feeding behavior ecology christmas tree worms spirobranchus giganteus are polychaete ciliary feeders that feed using their radioles the hair like appendages or feathers that circle outward from the central spine to catch phytoplankton floating by in the water.

But that he adds is just part of their charm. The food then passes down a groove pushed by their ciliary tracts which are lines of tiny hair like extensions on the sources of cells that create water currents to direct digestion. Both its common and latin names refer to the two chromatically hued spiral structures the most common feature seen by divers. Christmas tree worms are ciliary feeders which means they use cilia tiny hair like bristles on their appendages to catch food as it passes by.

The christmas tree worm is somewhat shy of movement and prefers to be under the cover of rocky overhangs out of the bright light and direct strong water flow. The eggs are fertilized in the water then develop into larvae that settle on coral heads and burrow into the. This widespread marine worm spirobranchus giganteus gets its holiday nickname from its gills.