File:Spirobranchus giganteus 2009, white christmas tree worm.jpg
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DescriptionSpirobranchus giganteus 2009, white christmas tree worm.jpg |
The worm is aptly named; Both its common and Latin names refer to the two, chromatically-hued spiral structures that are most commonly what is seen of the worm by divers. In actuality, these multicolored spirals are merely the worm's highly-derived respiratory structures. S. giganteus appears like most tube-building polychaetes. It has a tubular, segmented body lined with chaeta, small appendages that aids the worm with its mobility. As it does not move outside its tube, this worm does not have any specialized appendages for movement or swimming. The worms's most distinct features are the two "crowns" that are shaped like Christmas-trees. These "crowns" are actually highly modified prostomial palps which are specialized mouth appendages of the worm. Each spiral is actually composed of feather-like tentacles called radioles, which are heavily ciliated which allows any prey that are trapped in them to be transported straight towards the worm's mouth. While they are primarily feeding structures, S. giganteus also uses its radioles for respiration. It is because of this that the structures are commonly called "gills". One of the major differences between christmas-tree worms and the closely-related sabellid fan worms is that the latter do not have any specialized body structures to plug the holes of their tubes with when they withdraw into them. S. giganteus, like the other members of its family possess a modified radiole, usually called the operculum, that it uses to secure its hole when withdrawn into its tube. As an annelid, S. giganteus possesses a complete digestive system. It has a well-developed closed circulatory system. Like other annelids, these worms possess well-developed nervous systems with a central brain and many supporting ganglia, including pedal ganglia, which are unique to the Polychaeta. Like other polychaetes, S. giganteus excrete with fully-developed nephridia. When they reproduce, they simply shed their gametes straight into the water where the eggs (and spermatozoa) will become part of the zooplankton and can be carried by the currents. |
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Date | |||
Source | originally posted to Flickr as Nekton Rorqual 2009, white christmas tree worm | ||
Author | Kevin King | ||
Permission (Reusing this file) |
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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Date/Time | Thumbnail | Dimensions | User | Comment | |
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current | 23:07, 17 December 2010 | 3,072 × 2,304 (5.42 MB) | Flickr upload bot (talk | contribs) | Uploaded from http://flickr.com/photo/15775662@N00/3596485457 using Flickr upload bot |
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Camera manufacturer | Canon |
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Camera model | Canon PowerShot SD550 |
Author | Kevin "Elvis" King |
Exposure time | 1/60 sec (0.016666666666667) |
F-number | f/7.1 |
Date and time of data generation | 15:40, 28 May 2009 |
Lens focal length | 7.7 mm |
Orientation | Normal |
Horizontal resolution | 180 dpi |
Vertical resolution | 180 dpi |
Software used | Adobe Photoshop Elements 7.0 Windows |
File change date and time | 22:37, 4 June 2009 |
Y and C positioning | Centered |
Exif version | 2.2 |
Date and time of digitizing | 15:40, 28 May 2009 |
Image compression mode | 5 |
APEX shutter speed | 5.90625 |
APEX aperture | 5.65625 |
APEX exposure bias | 0 |
Maximum land aperture | 2.96875 APEX (f/2.8) |
Metering mode | Pattern |
Flash | Flash fired, compulsory flash firing |
Color space | sRGB |
Focal plane X resolution | 10,816.901408451 |
Focal plane Y resolution | 10,816.901408451 |
Focal plane resolution unit | inches |
Sensing method | One-chip color area sensor |
Custom image processing | Normal process |
Exposure mode | Auto exposure |
White balance | Manual white balance |
Digital zoom ratio | 1 |
Scene capture type | Standard |