Christmas Trees Beneath the Sea
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What inspired the discussion about Christmas trees beneath the sea?
The discussion was inspired by a 2021 JSTOR Daily article titled 'Meet the Christmas Tree Doppelgangers of the Sea' and observations of marine life resembling Christmas trees.
Why are Christmas tree worms named as such?
Christmas tree worms are named for their resemblance to Christmas trees, particularly in their spiral-shaped crowns that resemble the lights or garland wrapped around a tree.
How do Christmas tree worms protect themselves?
Christmas tree worms can rapidly retract their crowns into their tubes and seal the opening with an operculum when sensing danger, similar to a touch-me-not reflex.
What ecological role do Christmas tree worms play in coral reefs?
Christmas tree worms may protect the coral beneath them from predators like the crown of thorns starfish by irritating the starfish's feeding organs, thereby protecting the coral and allowing it to reseed the reef.
What is the Christmas tree black coral, and why is it named so?
The Christmas tree black coral (Antipathus dendrochristos) is named for its resemblance to frost-covered fir tree branches, which look like white flocked Christmas trees.
How old can the Christmas tree black coral grow to be?
The Christmas tree black coral can live for over a century, with one specimen found to be 140 years old.
What is the Christmas tree siphonophore, and where does it live?
The Christmas tree siphonophore (Forscalia formosa) is a deep-sea siphonophore that lives in the North Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, ranging from the surface down to 6,600 feet.
Why does the Christmas tree siphonophore resemble a Christmas tree?
The Christmas tree siphonophore resembles a Christmas tree due to its tree-like shape and the glowing, light-emitting structures that resemble Christmas tree lights.
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