68 — Tube worm, Spirobranchus cariniferus

Piha Beach, 6/01/15.

Piha Beach, 31/10/16.

It's fair to say that marine worms aren't exactly charismatic megafauna. However, they can be quite beautiful if seen in a favourable context. The common intertidal tube worm Spirobranchus cariniferus (Gray, 1843) is found throughout New Zealand. They are abundant on moderate to exposed rocky shores. These tube worms are filter feeders, taking material out of the passing water.

The feeding crown of the worm is a brilliant blue, but it is not often noticed, as the worm will withdraw it into its tube at the slightest nearby vibration. Consequently they need to be approached with a degree of stealth, as it takes a few minutes for them to re-emerge once they're retracted. What is usually seen are the calcareous tubes, which have a sharp dorsal (top) spine covering the opening of the tube; it's sharp and easy to cut yourself with.

These tube worms come from south Piha Beach, west of Auckland.