This blog is dedicated to the environmental well-being of our Florida coastal habitat.

This blog is
dedicated to the environmental well-being of coastal habitat.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Plumed worm

Plumed worms protect themselves by constructing tough,
skin-like tubes that are encrusted with shells and other debris.
There were a number of them in very shallow water
just off Bird Key (Ringling Bridge) this week.


(At first, I thought this was the stem of a petticoat or other alga.
Many were growing nearby.
A brief pull didn't uproot it.)
VIDEO
Click above to watch the plumed worm building its tube.
I'm not at all sure what the reddish glob to the upper right is.