Close up view (one to one, life size) of a 'Christmas tree worm. Genus is Spirobranchus. This tube dwelling worm has light sensitive photo-receptors. If your shadow passes over the animal, or if it feels a pressure wave from your approaching hand, it will disappear down into the tube which it has built in a colony of hard coral. As the coral grows and increases in size upward the worm deposits bits of debris into the walls of it's home and cements them in, making a snug, smooth tube. The spirobranchus is a filter feeding worm, removing it's food from the food rich passing currents.
Close up view (one to one, life size) of a 'Christmas tree worm. Genus is Spirobranchus. This tube dwelling worm has light sensitive photo-receptors. If your shadow passes over the animal, or if it feels a pressure wave from your approaching hand, it will disappear down into the tube which it has built in a colony of hard coral. As the coral grows and increases in size upward the worm deposits bits of debris into the walls of it's home and cements them in, making a snug, smooth tube. The spirobranchus is a filter feeding worm, removing it's food from the food rich passing currents.
Original size: 2680x1841 |
Current: 600x413 |