Is this a Worm?

[the_cat_keeper]

Saw it in Sulawesi, Indonesia at a muck diving site. Water temperature ~ 30degC. It looked like a bouquet of flowers.

 

[thomjinx]

I am no marine biologist, but I think that is one of the various types of "Christmas Tree Worms" They occur in many different colors and retract quickly if you get too close to them. They are filter feeders.

Someone else will likely have more detailed info.

Thomjinx

 

[Walter]

Yep, each pair of "christmas trees" is the visible part of one worm. Those are particularly beautiful, thanks for sharing.

 

[LeslieH]

Sorry, it's not a polychaete of any kind. It's the twin-spiralled lophophore of a phoronid worm. do you have any shots showing the whole clump instead of a close-up?

 

[wahlaoeh]

These are Phoronid worms, not christmas tree worms. Nice pix

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildshores/worm/phoronida/phoronida.htm

Jovin-

 

[Thalassamania]

Phoronid - yes.

 

[the_cat_keeper]

Sorry, it's not a polychaete of any kind. It's the twin-spiralled lophophore of a phoronid worm. do you have any shots showing the whole clump instead of a close-up?

I had wanted to load another photo showing the whole "bouquet" but somehow I just couldn't load the photo onto scubaboard! Anyway, looks like waolaoeh and Thalassamania have id my beautiful "worm". I certainly like the underwater worms much more than those on land!

 

[WVDiver]

Hey Cat Keeper. Nice kitty (have four myself) and great Christmas Tree Worm pic.

 

[the_cat_keeper]

These are Phoronid worms, not christmas tree worms. Nice pix

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildshores/worm/phoronida/phoronida.htm

Jovin-

Interesting website... also noticed that it says that the worm is commonly found near peacock anemones. I saw quite a few of these worms at Sand Castle in Gorontalo, not exactly near any particular anemones but there are plenty of anemones in the vicinity anyway.

 

[the_cat_keeper]

Hey Cat Keeper. Nice kitty (have four myself) and great Christmas Tree Worm pic.

Thanks! :blush: My cat would be really happy to hear that; I kept telling her it's my wonderful photography that makes her look pretty. Anyway I don't think she understood anything I said.