feather duster worm

noun

noun

Any of the Sabellidae, a family of sedentary marine polychaete tube worms with the head mostly concealed by feathery branchiae.

In addition, some tube dwelling species have dramatically modified segments used for water pumping or burrowing, and the filter-feeding feather duster worms produce fantastic flower-like crowns of feathery appendages.2001, Julian Sprung, Invertebrates: A Quick Reference Guide, page 135:

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