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Description

Stratozoa. The feathery structure is the branchial tree, homologous to that of heteromorphostomes and the rest of bamboo worms.

The bulb that is seen on the back of its body is the mantle, originated from the oldest zooid in the colony. In the larval stage of the creature it fulfilled a digestive function but in adults it serves as a kind of elastic hood where the organism can retract in the presence of danger. In many species this bulb is ornamented with defensive spines or camouflage textures.

The image shows Keraiapodia dillonensis, a small 7 cm predator that lives at the bottom of the reef.

Description

Stratozoa. The feathery structure is the branchial tree, homologous to that of heteromorphostomes and the rest of bamboo worms.

The bulb that is seen on the back of its body is the mantle, originated from the oldest zooid in the colony. In the larval stage of the creature it fulfilled a digestive function but in adults it serves as a kind of elastic hood where the organism can retract in the presence of danger. In many species this bulb is ornamented with defensive spines or camouflage textures.

The image shows Keraiapodia dillonensis, a small 7 cm predator that lives at the bottom of the reef.