The anterior end of a chemosynthetic siboglinid tubeworm, Lamellibrachia sp., protrudes from its tube. The red “feathers” are respiratory tentacles filled with hemoglobin-containing “blood.” The white structure is called an obturaculum and functions as a trapdoor that protects the opening when the worm withdraws into its tube. Brown branched hydroid colonies grow on the tube.
Tubeworm
Image courtesy of NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2017.
The anterior end of a chemosynthetic siboglinid tubeworm, Lamellibrachia sp., protrudes from its tube. The red “feathers” are respiratory tentacles filled with hemoglobin-containing “blood.” The white structure is called an obturaculum and functions as a trapdoor that protects the opening when the worm withdraws into its tube. Brown branched hydroid colonies grow on the tube. Download larger version (jpg, 757 KB).
Learn more