Bootlace worms are the longest animals in the world. They can grow up to nearly 200 feet (60 m) —longer than a blue whale. They are black or brown with a purple or blue head, and hide under rocks in the chilly waters of Europe.
Spaghetti worms are pink or cream colored with tentacles for catching food. These long, thin spaghetti-like arms are six times the length of their bodies. These worms are not picky and will eat anything. They live in rocks or buried in sand in Florida and Puerto Rico.
Christmas tree worms are only 1½ inches (38 mm)in length. They have tube-like bodies with crowns shaped like fir trees. The “hair” on their crowns catches floating food. These worms come in many bright colors: yellow, red, orange, white, and blue. They can live up to forty years. You can find them in coral reefs in tropical waters.
Flatworms are beautifully colored. They can grow up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long. They are flat like a leaf. Tiny bristles or hairs help them float across the water and catch insects. They live in warm water areas.
Feather duster worms have a soft, tube-shaped body with a crown of feathers. These multicolored “feathers” are 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) long. They use the feathers to catch plankton for food. If scared, these worms can pull the feathers into their tube to hide. They live in calm waters all over the world.
These are only five of the wild water worms around the world. From the longest worm—≈200 feet—to the smallest worm—thinner than a piece of paper—there are thousands of marine worms to explore!
