Marine Worms: Feather Duster Worms
(phylum Annelida, class Polychaeta, family Sabellidae)
Feather duster worms build their own tubes, using mucus and bits of sand or mud, and then live within them attached to hard seafloor surfaces. The worms can retract completely into their tubes when threatened by an animal or even a sudden motion or light. The “feather duster” crown sticking out of a typical tube is a suite of tentacles that adorns the worm’s head.
Photograph by Darlyne A. Murawski, National Geographic
(via: National Geo)
