Schizobranchia insignis

The Feather Duster Worm

Phylum Annelida
Class Polychaeta
Order Sabellida
Family Sabellidae
Genus Schizobranchia
Species insignis

Description: Tubes can reach a length of 20 cm and have a diameter about the size of a pencil; can be red, orange, gray, brown or greenish in color; cirri are dichotomously forked several times, looking like branches of feathers.

Habitat: Found on floats, pilings and rocks.

Natural History: S. insignis forms large masses and is the common species found in harbors and marinas. It feeds by trapping plankton in its plumes and transports the food to the mouth by wave-like action.