Christmas Tree Worm | Oceana

Christmas tree worms are not coral or plants. They are marine polychaete worms that live permanently inside hard, calcareous tubes embedded in rock or coral. The colorful spiral “trees” you see are actually radioles, specialized feeding and breathing structures. They filter plankton and oxygen from the water, extending into the current when conditions are calm. When a shadow passes or vibration is detected, the worm retracts instantly into its tube and seals itself inside for protection. Once th