Coral formations make great homes for a huge variety of different animals. From the fish, which hide in their shadows, to the borers which carve their homes out of the substance of their hosts – the ocean is one great relationship between species.
The Christmas tree worm is one such borer which settles on a piece of coral, perhaps where a polyp has been damaged and is unable to sting it and immediately secretes a small chalky tube.
The coral grows up around the tube through which the worm feeds, secretes, and breeds. It simply must construct its tube at the same rate as Coral growth to prevent it being sealed up and can reach lengths of 50 to 60 millimetres.
A sharp spike at the entrance of the Christmas tree worm deters fish from nipping at the feathery gills/feeding filters but the worm can contract rapidly into its tube sealing the entrance with a chalky plate.
Christmas tree worms are common in the massive porites coral boulders. The reasons for the variations in their colours are not known.
A variety of boring organisms such as worms, sponges, bivalves, algae and even particular hermit crabs make their homes in Coral.
In one study a 2.5-kilogram block of coral was found to be honeycombed with more than 100 species of polychaete worms!
What relationship will you discover when you visit the Reef?
See the Reef, Love the Reef, Protect the Reef.
Contributed with thanks to Brett Chatterton
What marvellous relationships we see in the coral reefs of the world? Such as the Christmas Tree Worm, named for its appearance
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