Live Spiral Tubeworm (Spirorbis spp.) Please Note: This is a live marine specimen.
The Spiral Tubeworm (Spirorbis spp.) is a small, coiled marine worm that secretes a distinctive white calcium tube, often found attached to the fronds of rockweed (Fucus vesiculosus) in the lower intertidal zone. These tiny annelids are filter feeders, extending delicate crowns of tentacles to capture microscopic plankton from the water. Their spiral shells and behavior make them fascinating additions to marine biology studies and educational aquariums.
Sustainably hand-collected from Maine’s coastal tidepools and rockweed beds, each specimen arrives ready for observation, classroom use, or live tank display.
Common name: Spiral tubeworm Scientific name:Spirorbis spp. Locations: On Fucus (bladder wrack) in lower intertidal zones Seasonality: Available year round Colors: White, calcium-colored tubes Size: 1/16” – 1/4” Collected: By hand Quantity: Sold by the each
Uses: Excellent for marine aquariums, live tank displays, and invertebrate anatomy or filter-feeding studies.
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Live Spiral Tubeworm (Spirorbis spp.) Please Note: This is a live marine specimen.
The Spiral Tubeworm (Spirorbis spp.) is a small, coiled marine worm that secretes a distinctive white calcium tube, often found attached to the fronds of rockweed (Fucus vesiculosus) in the lower intertidal zone. These tiny annelids are filter feeders, extending delicate crowns of tentacles to capture microscopic plankton from the water. Their spiral shells and behavior make them fascinating additions to marine biology studies and educational aquariums.
Sustainably hand-collected from Maine’s coastal tidepools and rockweed beds, each specimen arrives ready for observation, classroom use, or live tank display.
Common name: Spiral tubeworm Scientific name:Spirorbis spp. Locations: On Fucus (bladder wrack) in lower intertidal zones Seasonality: Available year round Colors: White, calcium-colored tubes Size: 1/16” – 1/4” Collected: By hand Quantity: Sold by the each
Uses: Excellent for marine aquariums, live tank displays, and invertebrate anatomy or filter-feeding studies.
Note: This is a live marine specimen. Natural variations in size, color, and appearance from photos should be expected. If you would like any specimen preserved, please send a request to: info@gulfofme.com.
Tidepool Tim says, "These little tubeworms settle, grow, eat, and spawn while living on the fronds of bladderwrack seaweed. It is rare to find a single worm in any one location - typically they are in large colonies on several fucus plants all in one location. Worms range in size from a mere dot up to the size of an un-popped corn kernel. When the tide flows out these worms seal up their tubes and hopefully don't get too hot or dry out until the tide floods back in. They have small little tentacles used for feeding which can be seen with a hand lens. They must be broadcast spawners that develop into some sort of planktonic larvae which eventually settle out onto new seaweed plants. Calcium from the seawater is used to grow a hard, waterproof shell that grows in a clockwise whorl. We collect and sell these as colonies of dozens of tubeworms.”
Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
