Sometimes there are so many Tube Worms on the rocks that people think it is coral.
Common name: Tube Worm
Scientific name: Galeolaria caespitosa
Photo: W. Rudman
What other animals find shelter and a place to live in the tubes built by Tube Worms?
Rock pools and rock platforms
Tube Worms
Tube Worms live around the shores of southern Australia. They are found on reefs and on rocks near the beach.
Tube Worms build limestone tubes to hide in.
Tube Worms are small worms with black tentacles. They build tubes to hide in and are hardly ever seen.
The tubes are white and about 3 cm long. Tubes cover the rocks in large numbers. The tubes have a tight cap to seal the end off to stop the worms drying out.
Tube Worms eat plankton. The worms collect plankton in their tentacles.
Fish eat Tube Worms.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
