Description

Also known as European Fanworm, Fan Worm, Feather Duster, Feather Tube Worm, Marine Polychaete Worm, Mediterranean Fanworm, Pencil Worm, Rock Worm, Segmented Sea Worm, Spirograph Worm, Tubeworm.

Found solitary, or in small groups, buried in cracks and holes, on moored boats, jetties, mollusc shells, pontoons, rocks, amongst sandy substrate and other solid surfaces, over sheltered, nutrient rich waters, of coral and rocky reefs. Colours vary. The deeper they are found, the larger they seem to be. These are considered an invasive pest!
They feed on bacteria, phytoplankton, and zooplankton.
Length - 40cm
Depth - ?-30m
Widespread North East Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indo-West Pacific

Segmented worms are extremely mobile, have strong jaws for hunting and feeding on their prey.
Some worms are covered in hairs for protection, scavenging on the sea floor for detritus.
Others are delicate fans, protected by their self made tubes, which they retreat back into when threatened, these are filter feeders and feed on plankton. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabella_spallanzanii