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Merry Christmas 2017

December 24, 2017

Christmas tree worms, named for their resemblance to decorated holiday trees, are tiny, segmented worms that grow slowly and live up to four decades in a single location once they have established themselves. The branches of the “tree” are actually the worm’s radiolestentacles. The tiny animal uses them for feeding and respiration and retracts them quickly when it senses danger. Unlike real Christmas trees, which grow in cooler climates, these worms prefer tropical coral reefs. Wherever you find yourself this holiday, we at WHOI wish you a very Merry Christmas. (Photo by Kristen Whalen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)