Spirobranchus giganteus Broadcast Spawning

This is a female Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) engaged in broadcast spawning. The female is sending a stream of orange eggs into the water, with eggs being carried into the background by the current. The progression of eggs up the right spiral appendage is visible from this angle. Other polychaete worms of the same species were sending out gametes in synchrony. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

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Filename: spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tree-worm-broadcast-spawning-202306-1051.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 6834x4556 / 89.7MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Polychaete Worm Christmas Tree Worm Animalia Annelida Polychaeta Canalipalpata Serpulidae Spirobranchus giganteus Ibara-kanzashi Reproduction Broadcast Spawning Eggs Pacific Japan Kagoshima Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Marine Life | Japan

This is a female Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) engaged in broadcast spawning. The female is sending a stream of orange eggs into the water, with eggs being carried into the background by the current. The progression of eggs up the right spiral appendage is visible from this angle. Other polychaete worms of the same species were sending out gametes in synchrony. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.