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  • 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. Other polychaete worms of the same species were sending out gametes in synchrony. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • The visible portion of Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus) comprises modified<br />
prostomial palps (mouth appendages) that are used by the animals for feeding and breathing. These polychaete worms also defecate from central tube within these spiral appendanges, as shown here. This particular worm has made a home in a thin wedge of Pavona decussata leaf coral.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-polychaete-w...jpg
  • 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. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • Shown here is the rediole array of a Metavermilia inflata polychaete worm. Radioles are the ciliated feather-like tentacles that sessile polychaete worms such as these use for filter-feeding and respiration. The ball is the worm’s operculum, which seals the end of the tube when the animal retracts its radioles. The worm has just defecated, poop visible coming out of the central tube.
    metavermilia-inflata-polychaete-worm...tif
  • These feathery structures are modified<br />
prostomial palps (mouth appendages) of Spirobranchus giganteus  polychaete worms. These spiral radioles are lined with cilia and are used by the worm for feeding and breathing. The circular structure in the foreground is the operculum, which the worm uses to seal its burrow.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • This is a close-up view of the radioles of a hard tubeworm (Protula bispiralis). These feathery appendages serve both to filter food and for respiration. The  polychaete worm's body is encased within the safety of the tube beneath these radioles. This particular worm has borrowed into a colony of Pavona decussata leaf coral to make its home. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    protula-bispiralis-polychaete-tubewo...tif
  • These feathery structures are modified<br />
prostomial palps (mouth appendages) of Spirobranchus giganteus  polychaete worms. These spiral radioles are lined with cilia and are used by the worm for feeding and breathing. These worms have a mutual symbiotic relationship with their host corals.<br />
The corals provide structural support and protection, while the worms enhance water circulation which helps corals feed.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • This is a male Christmas tree polychaete worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) engaged in broadcast spawning. The male is sending a stream of sperm into the water while nearby individuals were sending out gametes in synchrony. Some eggs from nearby females are visible in the water at full magnification. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • These feathery structures are modified<br />
prostomial palps (mouth appendages) of Spirobranchus giganteus  polychaete worms, often called Christmas tree worms. These spiral radioles are lined with cilia and are used by the worm for feeding and breathing. These worms have a mutual symbiotic relationship with their host corals. The corals provide structural support and protection, while the worms enhance water circulation which helps corals feed.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • 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.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
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