Christmas Tree Worm - Spirobranchus corniculatus

This Christmas Tree Worm can comes is great variety of colours.

comments (2)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

All of them are the same species? That's incredible! Posted 5 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  Yes, the are all of the same species despite the difference in colours in the crowns.
  
  There are 2 other species that could be similar looking but their distribution is totally different.
  This one is called Indo-Pacific Christmas Tree Worm for its distribution among the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
  
  The other 2 are :
  
  - Spirobranchus giganteus (Caribbean Christmas Tree Worm), visually, they do look similar to Spirobranchus corniculatus, but I gather they should be confined to the Caribbeans.
  
  - Spirobranchus spinosus (Panamic Christmas Tree Worm), visually, they do look a bit similar, but this are recorded from the west coast of North America.
  
  Couldn't find good pictures/references of other Spirobranchus speceies, as they mostly shows the 'tubes' in the rock without crowns. Posted 5 years ago