These worms are on the lookout for sea urchins, shrimp, crabs and reef fish. #6: How do Christmas tree worms defend themselves?Īt the first sign of danger the Christmas tree worm quickly retracts into its burrow and seals the entrance with their operculum. Talk about being resourceful! Photo Credit: johnandersonphoto They mainly feed on microscopic plankton, but occasionally they will take in sand to use as building material to help anchor themselves into the coral.

These ‘hairs’ are called cilia, which act like tiny bristles to create water currents that direct digestion of food. #5: Christmas tree worms are f ilter feeders.Ĭhristmas tree worms are filter feeders, which means they feed on particles passing by in the water column using the ‘hairs’ on their body. These worms are primarily sedentary, meaning they don’t move after settling. The rest is hidden below in a tube bored into the live coral. The tree-like portion of a Christmas tree worm only makes up ⅓ of its body. Which color is your favorite? Photo Credit: mauriziobiso They can be seen in a variety of vibrant colors, including pink, red, yellow, brown, white and blue. Since Christmas tree worms are found living on shallow coral reefs, sunlight reaches them allowing the full spectrum of their colors to be visible. #3: Christmas tree worms brighten up the coral reef. They are extremely important for the worm’s survival as they are used to filter feed particles and draw oxygen from the water. These eye-catching appendages, called crowns, come in a pair and are made up of feather-like radioles, a kind of tentacle. #2: The eye-catching appendages of the Christmas tree wormĬhristmas tree worms get their name from the visible section seen protruding from their burrows. #1: Don’t be fooled by the Christmas tree worm’s size.Īlthough they stand at an average height of just 1.5 inches, the Christmas tree worm is one of the more recognizable invertebrates on coral reefs because of their distinct shape and bright colors. The Christmas tree worm ( Spirobranchus giganteus) is a species of polychaete marine worm that is most commonly associated with hard corals in shallow tropical coral reefs around the world.ĭiscover some fascinating facts about this species below.

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