Fan Worm

Fan worms, also called feather duster worms, are segmented marine worms that build a protective tube of mucus and sediment and spend their adult lives anchored inside it. From the tube's opening, the worm extends a crown of feathery, brightly colored tentacles to filter plankton from the water and to breathe, withdrawing the entire crown instantly into the tube at the slightest disturbance or shadow. They are found attached to rock, coral, and other hard surfaces on reefs worldwide.