Christmas tree worm
Christmas tree worms are widely distributed throughout the world's tropical oceans. They have been known to occur from the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific.
The Christmas tree worms are commonly found embedded in entire heads of massive corals, such as stony corals like Poritus and brain corals. Like members of its family, it can secrete a calcium carbonate tube around its body. This tube serves as the worm's home and protection. S. giganteus usually bores a hole into an existing head of living coral before secreting its tube, thereby increasing its level of protection.
As inhabitants of coral reefs who can't move, Christmas tree worms feed primarily by filter feeding. They use their brightly colored radioles to filter microorganisms from the water, which are then deposited straight into the worm's digestive tract.
The Christmas tree worms are commonly found embedded in entire heads of massive corals, such as stony corals like Poritus and brain corals. Like members of its family, it can secrete a calcium carbonate tube around its body. This tube serves as the worm's home and protection. S. giganteus usually bores a hole into an existing head of living coral before secreting its tube, thereby increasing its level of protection.
As inhabitants of coral reefs who can't move, Christmas tree worms feed primarily by filter feeding. They use their brightly colored radioles to filter microorganisms from the water, which are then deposited straight into the worm's digestive tract.
