This pair of feather-like tentacles, called radioles, is used for respiration and to catch floating plankton and microscopic plants. Each worm has one pair of these radioles.

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Christmas Tree Worm

Water temperatures in the Red Sea peaks at 35 degrees celcius. Most reefs bleach and die off in such conditions while the Red Sea corals linger on. They are remarkably resilient to high temperatures. Scientists are trying to figure out the key to this crucial ability, with hope of some day be able to salvage reefs currently suffering from rising sea temperatures in other parts of the world.