Baird's Christmas Tree Worm

Baird's Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) is a vibrant marine polychaete worm known for its striking, colorful, and spiral-shaped gills that resemble a Christmas tree. These worms live attached to coral reefs and are filter feeders, extending their ornate plumes to capture plankton and tiny particles from the water. When threatened, they quickly retract into their calcium carbonate tubes for protection. Their eye-catching appearance and unique behavior make them popular among divers and researchers studying reef biodiversity, though they play a vital role in maintaining healthy coral ecosystems by filtering water.