Eudistylia vancouveri

The Northern Feather Duster Worm

Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta
Order Sabellida
Family Sabellidae
Genus Eudistylia
Species vancouveri

Description: May reach more than 1 cm in diameter and reach a length of about 20cm; alternating colored bands of maroon and dark green; cirri are simply pinnate; brown parchment-like tubes.

Habitat: Very common on floats and pilings.

Natural History: They are gregarious and form large masses. They are sensitive to the slightest movement, often withdrawing into their tubes by even a shadow that is picked up by the black eye spots on their cirri. It took a lot of patience to photograph this worm. We found this duster worm at Boston Harbor.