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Christmas Tree Worm

Spirobranchus giganteus

Christmas Tree Worm

Spirobranchus giganteus
At the Aquarium
Connected Coasts

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

  • Each christmas tree worm has two brightly colored crowns that look like two trees sticking out from its tube-like body. These crowns are made of hair like attachments that are used for breathing and catching food.
  • Christmas tree worms average about 3.8 cm in length and come in a variety of bright colors.

    • Habitat

    Intertidal and subtidal coral reefs

    Diet

    Microscopic plants or phytoplankton

    Life History

  • Christmas tree worms reproduce by broadcast spawning. After fertilization, the eggs hatch and planktonic larvae develop. This stage lasts about 9-12 days. The larvae of Christmas tree worms are positively phototactic, meaning that they respond to light and float freely in the water.
  • Once settled onto a reef, the Christmas tree worm becomes a juvenile and begins to build a tube on the surface of the coral. Christmas tree worms are sedentary, meaning that once they find their place, they don’t move much. Most of their bodies are anchored in these burrows. When startled, these worms rapidly retract back into their burrows.
  • One study estimates that they can live up to 10 to 40 years, however more data is needed to identify an average lifespan.

    • IUCN Status

    Not Evaluated

    Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

  • Christmas tree worms and their host corals have a mutualistic relationship, meaning that they benefit each other. The host coral provides support and protection for the worm while Christmas tree worms increase water movement that helps coral feed.
  • Due to the symbiotic relationship between christmas tree worms and its host coral, this species has the potential to be an indicator of coral reef health. This is important since climate change is negatively impacting coral reefs worldwide. Christmas tree worms can help researchers identify and understand how rising temperatures are affecting entire reef ecosystems.
    • Range
    Western Indian Ocean and western Pacific to the Caribbean and eastern Atlantic.
    On the Oregon Coast
    Fun Facts
    Christmas tree worms are a part of a group called Polychaetes. Other species of polychaetes often go unnoticed, but due to their unique appearance, Christmas tree worms stand out.

    Citations & Other Resources

  • Colin, P. L. 1995. Tropical Pacific invertebrates: a field guide to the marine invertebrates occurring on tropical Pacific coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. Coral Reef Press, Beverly Hills, Calif.
  • Gosliner, T. 1996. Coral reef animals of the Indo-Pacific: animal life from Africa to Hawaii exclusive of the vertebrates. Sea Challengers, Monterey, Calif.
  • HUNTE, W., J. R. MARSDEN, and B. E. CONLIN. 1990. Habitat selection in the tropical polychaete Spirobranchus giganteus. III: Effects of coral species on body size and body proportions. Marine biology 104:101–107.
  • MARSDEN, J. R., B. E. CONLIN, and W. HUNTE. 1990. Habitat selection in the tropical polychaete Spirobranchus giganteus. II: Larval preferences for corals. Marine biology 104:93–99.
  • Nishi, E. (Chiba-ken N. H. M. and I. (Japan)), and M. Nishihira. 1996. Age-estimation of the christmas tree worm Spirobranchus giganteus (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) living buried in the coral skeleton from the coral-growth band of the host coral. Fisheries science 62:400–403.
  • NOAA. (n.d.). What are Christmas tree worms? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/xmas-tree.html.
  • Petrocelly, G. 2023. The Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) as a Potential Bioindicator of Coral Reef Health. Berkeley Scientific Journal 27.
    • Back to All Animals

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    About Oregon Coast Aquarium

    Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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