Home > Invertebrates > Segmented Worms & Phoronids

Updated 3/4/2024

Phylum Annelida

Segmented Worms

Segmented worms are a complex group of animals related to earthworms, possessing segmented bodies, complete digestive tract, complex nervous system, and bristle-like setae used for locomotion.  They may either be active or sedentary, free-living or tube-dwelling, with a variety of feeding methods.

 

Setae are sharp, deliver painful wounds and difficult to remove.  Don't touch!

 

CIRCUMGLOBAL

Thelepus setosus

BROWN TUBE WORM

 

 Family Onuphidae

TUBE WORM

 

CIRCUMTROPICAL

Loimia medusa

SPAGHETTI WORM

 

 Branchiomma nigromaculata

BLACKSPOTTED TUBE WORM

 
Eurythoe complanata

ORANGE FIREWORM

 

 Filograna implexa

LACY TUBEWORM

 
Ficopomatus enigmaticus

AUSTRALIAN TUBE WORM

 

 Mesochaetopterus sagittarius

SAGITTARIUS TUBE WORM

 
Salmacina dysteri

SEA FROST WORM

 

 Trachelobdella lubrica

KNOBBY FISH LEECH

 
Stibarobdella macrothela

SPOTTED ELASMOBRANCH LEECH

 

  

 

  

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Spirobranchus sp. cf. corniculatus

INDO-PACIFIC CHRISTMAS-TREE WORM

 

 Sabellastarte spectabilis

FEATHER-DUSTER WORM

 
Chloeia fusca

DARKLINED FIREWORM

 

 Pherecardia striata

LINED FIREWORM

 
Palola siciliensis

PALOLO WORM

 

 Chaetopterus sp.

PARCHMENT TUBE WORM
Iphione muricata

Spiny Scale Worm, Manana Island, Oahu, 30 feet

SPINY SCALE WORM

 

 Gastrolepidia clavigera

SEA CUCUMBER SCALE WORM

 
Various species

 

 Loimia cf. verrucosa

BANDED SPAGHETTI WORM

 

 

  

INDO-PACIFIC

Protula magnifica

MAGNIFICENT FEATHER-DUSTER WORM

 

 Chloeia sp.

BRISTLE WORM

 

JAPAN

Spirobranchus sp. cf. latiscapus

JAPANESE CHRISTMAS-TREE WORM

 

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Spirobranchus spinosus

PANAMIC CHRISTMAS-TREE WORM

 

NORTHEAST PACIFIC

 Eudistylia polymorpha

FEATHER-DUSTER WORM

 

 Eudistylia vancouveri

NORTHERN FEATHER-DUSTER WORM
Myxicola infundibulum

BROWN SABELLID

 

 Serpula vermicularis

RED TUBE WORM

 
Thelepus crispus

TUBE WORM

 

 Arctonoe pulchra

RED COMMENSAL SCALE WORM

 
Dodecaceria fewkesi

COLONIAL TUBE WORM

 

Bispira turneri

TURNER'S TUBEWORM

TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC

Anamobaea oerstedii

SPLIT-CROWN FEATHER-DUSTER  WORM

 

 Pomatostegus stellatus

STAR HORSESHOE WORM

 
Chloeia viridis

RED-TIPPED, BLACKLINE FIREWORM

 

 Hermodice carunculata

BEARDED FIREWORM
Spirobranchus giganteus

CHRISTMAS-TREE WORM

 

  

 

Phylum Phoronida

Phoronids or Horseshoe Worms

Phoronids are worm-like animals with unsegmented bodies.  The feed using a ciliated structure called a lophophore.  They are best represented in temperate waters.

http://paleopolis.rediris.es/Phoronida/index.html

CIRCUMTROPICAL

Phoronis australis

SOUTHERN HORSESHOE WORM

 

 

NORTHEAST PACIFIC

Phoronopsis californica

GOLDEN HORSESHOE WORM

 

 Phoronis ijimai

WHITE HORSESHOE WORM