Many marine worms live inside tubes of their own construction. This gives them protection from predators - but then how do you feed? You develop feeding tentacles which fan out from the mouth of your home, and filter food particles from the water. Zoom in to see the fine feeding structures. Bare Island
This is the local species of fanworm rather than the invasive European fanworm - Sabella spallanzanii. The latter has a long tube whereas the local species is normally buried in the sand
This fascinating fanworm was out catching food in the strong surge at The Monument this morning. It's a filter feeder - yo can see the fine hairs along each tentacle that trap food from the water column
Summary[edit] Description: English: Feather duster worm at Castle Rocks on the Cape Peninsula. Date: 26 July 2008, 16:07:16. Source: Own work. Author: Peter Southwood.
Summary[edit] Description: English: Feather duster worm at Lorry Bay south of Gordon's Bay on the East side of False Bay. Date: 9 November 2008, 14:17:18. Source: Own work. Author: Peter Southwood.
Summary[edit] Description: English: Feather duster worm at Lorry Bay south of Gordon's Bay on the East side of False Bay. Date: 9 November 2008, 14:17:06. Source: Own work. Author: Peter Southwood.
Summary[edit] Description: English: A photograph of a feather duster worm, Sabellastarte longa, taken in 10m of water in False Bay Cape Town using a housed Fuji camera. Date: July 2011. Source: Own work. Author: Seascapeza.