Christmas Tree Worm

ID points

• Two spiral cones of feathery gills, like a pair of tiny Christmas trees
• The tube is buried in living coral, with only the gills showing
• Snaps back into its tube the moment a shadow passes over

Basics

Family

Serpulidae

Length

2–4 cm

Depth

1-30 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Shallow tropical coral reefs

Habitat

Living corals on shallow reefs

Diet

Plankton

Easily confused with

Feather Duster WormA ring of feathery gill plumes opens at the top like a dusterFlame ScallopA fringe of bright red tentacles around the shell edgeBarrel SpongeA huge barrel-shaped body with a deep central opening

Fun fact

The Christmas Tree Worm is known for its brilliantly coloured double spiral of feathery tentacles, which look like a pair of miniature Christmas trees, and it snaps them back into its tube in the coral the instant it is disturbed.