Sue Hollis, Feather Duster Worm (May Theme: The Elegance of Nature)

This delicate, feathery underwater creature is related to the earthworm in that it has a segmented body however this worm is protected within a tube and is far more attractive. The exquisite feathery crown that gives the feather duster worm its name is a specialized part of its body that is used to trap plankton and move them to its mouth. These fan worms don’t have a face and eyes, but they are able to detect changes in the light and use that light sensitivity to protect them from predators. If a feather duster worm detects a shadow or feels threatened, it will retreat into its tube for protection. Feather duster worms build the tubes that protect their soft bodies - a truly complex but stunning creature

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.