Bristle worms are polychaete worms that are in Phylum Annelidae (Annelidae includes segmented worms like earthworms). Bristle worms got their name because they have a pair of setae (bristles) sticking out from each segment of their bodies.
Most bristle worms live in the ocean, but there are a few (like Manayunkia speciosa pictured here) that live in freshwater. Sometimes these bristle worms are called “feather duster worms”!
They use silt or sand particles to build a tube to live in. The front end sticks out of the tube. They use the "feather duster" tentacles to breathe and to capture small bits of floating dead plants and animals.
Tags:
Water Critters