Story: Marine animals without backbones

Tube worm

Tube worm

Tube worms are close relatives of ordinary earthworms – they both belong to the group of segmented worms known as annelids. Tube worms secrete lime or sand around their bodies and usually live fixed in one spot. Protula bispiralis, shown here, is also known as a fanworm, from its crown of feathery tentacles which it uses for filtering food from the water.

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Department of Conservation
Reference: 10050218

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How to cite this page:

Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, 'Marine animals without backbones - Advanced worms', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5855/tube-worm (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006