The Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) is a colorful marine worm with beautiful, spiraling plumes that resemble a fir tree. These animals are colorful, and can be red, orange, yellow, blue and white.
The "Christmas tree" shown here are the animal's radioles, which can be up to about 1-1/2 inches across. The rest of the worm burrows into a tube in the coral, where it can withdraw to protect itself.
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Annelida
- Class: Polychaeta
- Subclass: Canalipalpata
- Order: Sabellida
- Family: Serpulidae
- Genus: Spirobranchus
- species: giganteus
Habitat:
The Christmas tree worm lives on tropical coral reefs throughout the world.
Feeding:
The Christmas tree worm's plumes are used for feeding and respiration. Christmas tree worms use their plumes to catch plankton and other small particles passing in the water. Cilia then pass the food to the worm's mouth.
Reproduction:
There are male and female Christmas tree worms. They reproduce by sending eggs and sperm into the water. Fertilized eggs develop into larvae that settle on coral.
