Polychaeta Collection

Scientist working with a ragworm specimen
Scientist dissecting a ragworm specimen, held at the Natural History Museum, London

Hard coral (Porites lutea) with Christmas-tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus), New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean

Feather duster worm (Sabellidae) Rinca, Indonesia

Kaleidoscopic image of Variegated feather duster (Bispira variegata), Sabellidae. Puerto Galera, Philippines

Atlantic Palolo (Eunice fucata) looking for food just before retreating back into her burrow, in land locked alakaline lagoon on Eleuthera Island, Bahamas

Variegated feather duster (Bispira variegata) Sabellidae. Puerto Galera, Philippines

Magnificent feather duster worm (Protula magnifica) Puerto Galera, Philippines

Bristleworm {Nereididae} swimming, Saltstraumen, Bod, Norway, October 2008

Sand worm with crimson feelers, Amphitrite rosea. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Sowerby from The British
FLO5004626 Sand worm with crimson feelers, Amphitrite rosea. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Sowerby from The British Miscellany, or Coloured figures of new, rare

Secretary blenny (Acanthemblemaria maria) hiding underneath a Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) Bonaire, Caribbean

Sand tube-building annelid fanworm, Pectinaria belgica (Nereis pectinata). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by James Sowerby from The British Miscellany, or Coloured figures of new, rare

Post Horn Worms (Spirorbis) on seaweed, on beach, Derrible Bay, Sark, British Channel Islands

Peacock Tube Worm (Sabella pavonina) with Cuttlefish eggs, Bouley Bay, Jersey, British Channel Islands

This is a microscopic look at the detail on an Indian feather duster worm (Sabellastarte indica) one of the larger of this family reaching 4 inches across, Yap, Micronesia

Marine worm, Nereis sp

Lugworms (Arenicola marina), close up

King ragworm C015 / 7450
King ragworm (Alitta virens). This is a marine polychaete, a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

King ragworm C015 / 7523
King ragworm (Alitta virens). This is a marine polychaete, a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

King ragworm C015 / 7495
King ragworm (Alitta virens). This is a marine polychaete, a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

King ragworm C015 / 7421
King ragworm (Alitta virens). This is a marine polychaete, a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

King ragworm C015 / 7481
King ragworm (Alitta virens). This is a marine polychaete, a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

Scientist with a ragworm specimen C016 / 5976
Scientist dissecting a ragworm specimen under a microscope. Photographed at the Natural History Museum, London, UK

Greenleaf worm (Eulalia viridis)

Arenicola loveni, polychaete worm
Illustration from Catalogue of the Chaetopoda in the British Museum (Natural History), Polychaeta (1912). Illustration on display in the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum, London

Polychaete worm
An annelid worm of the class Polychaeta

Rotularia bognori, tube of polychaete worm
A tube cast of the polychaete worm (Rotularia bognori). Specimen originates from Bognor, England

Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) filter feeding, Mabul Island, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

Bristle worm head, SEM
Bristle worm head, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Bristle worms (polychaeta) are free-swimming marine annelids (segmented worms)

Polychaete marine worms (Pseudopotamilla reniformis). Polychaetes are a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

Fan worms. Close-up of the tentacled heads of a colony of Sabellastarte sp. fan worms. These polychaete tube worms live in tubes using their tentacles to catch food particles as they float by

King ragworm
Kingragworm (Alitta virens). This is a marine polychaete, a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

Spaghetti worm cocoon
Spaghetti worm (Cirratulus cirratus) cocoon. Spaghetti worms are polychaetes, which are a class of marine annelid (segmented) worm

Spaghetti worm. Close-up of the tentacled polychaete marine worm (Cirratulus cirratus)

Marine worm. Close-up of the head of a polychaete marine worm (Lepidonotus squamatus). Polychaetes are a class of annelid (segmented) worms

Polychaete marine worm on a sponge
Polychaete marine worm (Lepidonotus squamatus) on a natural sponge. Polychaetes are a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy limb-like appendages (parapodia)

Marine worm fluorescing. Image showing the ability of the polychaete marine worm Lepidonotus squamatus to fluoresce. Polychaetes are a class of annelid (segmented) worms

Feather duster worm. Close-up of the tentacled polychaete (marine annelid) worm Branchiomma arctica. These worms live in tubes made out of sand, and bits of shell and other debris

Amphitrite worm. Close-up of the tentacles of an Amphitrite sp. polychaete (marine annelid) worm. Amphitrites are surface deposit feeders

Polychaete marine worm (Phyllodoce groenlandica). Polychaetes are a class of annelid (segmented) worms. Each segment has a pair of fleshy un-jointed limb-like appendages (parapodia)

Trumpet worm. Underside of the marine annelid worm Pectinaria koreni, a type of fanworm. Fanworms live in tubes built out of sand and other bits of debris found on the sea floor

Bobbit worm with its jaws extended. Bobbit worms (Eunice aphroditois) are aggressive predatory polychaete worms that use their huge jaws (grey) to snatch at passing fish

Bristle worm. Polychaete marine worm (Brada villosa) with its tentacles retracted. This worm is a surface deposit feeder. It catches falling particles with numerous tentacles (not seen)

Feather Duster Worm (Species unknown) Babbacombe, Torquay, South Devon, UK. (RR)
Alan James / SplashdownDirect

Tubeworm, Sabellastarte sp. Monkey beach, Puerto Galera, Mindoro, Philippines
Andre Seale / SplashdownDirect

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"Exploring the Enigmatic World of Polychaeta: A Kaleidoscope of Marine Wonders" In this captivating image, a dedicated scientist delicately examines a ragworm specimen, unraveling the mysteries hidden within its intricate body structure. The polychaetes, also known as bristle worms, are an incredibly diverse group of marine organisms that inhabit various ecosystems across the globe. Venturing into the vibrant waters off New Caledonia, we encounter a mesmerizing sight - a hard coral adorned with Christmas-tree worms. These Spirobranchus giganteus create stunningly colorful spirals on their calcareous tubes, adding splashes of vivid hues to the underwater landscape. Further east in Rinca, Indonesia lies another enchanting spectacle - a feather duster worm from the Sabellidae family gracefully swaying in the currents. Its delicate tentacles extend like feathery plumes, creating an ethereal display reminiscent of an otherworldly creature. A kaleidoscopic image captures our attention next - showcasing the variegated beauty of Bispira variegata. This species belongs to Sabellidae and showcases nature's artistry through its radiant colors and intricate patterns. Moving towards Atlantic shores, we witness an intriguing behavior exhibited by Eunice fucata or Atlantic Palolo. This fascinating creature emerges from her burrow in search of sustenance before skillfully retreating back into her sandy sanctuary. Journeying westward to Puerto Galera in the Philippines reveals two more breathtaking specimens from Sabellidae family – Protula magnifica and Bispira variegata. Their resplendent forms showcase nature's ability to craft astonishing creatures that captivate our imagination. Delving deeper into historical records brings forth an exquisite illustration by James Sowerby depicting Amphitrite rosea – a sand worm with crimson feelers. This hand-colored engraving reminds us how these creatures have fascinated naturalists for centuries.