Worm Hole | Pectinariidae Polychaete Trumpet Worm

This is a head-on view of the tube-like home of a marine polychaete worm in the Pectinariidae family, commonly known as trumpet worms or ice cream cone worms. These worms construct their homes by fitting and gluing together grains of sand. The walls of their home typically comprise a single layer of sand. The head of the worm is situated at the wider end (2cm in diameter in this case) of the tube, which faces down into sediment, with the narrower end protruding above the sediment. The worms forage in the sediment, digging through sand, mud and silt with strong gold-colored spines (setae) while using tentacles to sort through the materials. The worms digest organic particles and excrete pseudofaeces, a stream of undigested inorganic matter wrapped in mucous. This worm hole measured 9cm in length.

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Filename: pectinariidae-polychaete-trumpet-worm-tube-front-view-tonga.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 7572x5048 / 109.4MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Polychaete Worm Animalia Annelida Polychaeta Canalipalpata Terebellida Pectinariidae Ice Cream Cone Worm Trumpet Worm South Pacific Tonga Vava’u Focus Stacking
Contained in galleries: Tonga

This is a head-on view of the tube-like home of a marine polychaete worm in the Pectinariidae family, commonly known as trumpet worms or ice cream cone worms. These worms construct their homes by fitting and gluing together grains of sand. The walls of their home typically comprise a single layer of sand. The head of the worm is situated at the wider end (2cm in diameter in this case) of the tube, which faces down into sediment, with the narrower end protruding above the sediment. The worms forage in the sediment, digging through sand, mud and silt with strong gold-colored spines (setae) while using tentacles to sort through the materials. The worms digest organic particles and excrete pseudofaeces, a stream of undigested inorganic matter wrapped in mucous. This worm hole measured 9cm in length.