Spirobranchus giganteus Pallas 1766

christmas tree worm

Christmas tree worms, Spirobranchus giganteus, are found in a variety of bright colours, including red, yellow, blue, brown and white.

They live in tubes in hard corals, only the spirals of feeding tentacles are normally visible. When disturbed, Spirobranchus giganteus will immediately disappear into its tube, leaving only a hole with a small horn beside it.

Christmas tree worms feed on plankton.