Worms in the soil are not generally considered as particularly lovely. But underwater they can have a delicate and feathery beauty, as is illustrated by this polychaete tube worm (Sebellastarte indica: diameter 8 cms.). A filter feeder, its many tentacles were deployed fully to catch passing organic particles. Photographing them close-up can be a difficult task, as they withdraw their tentacular crowns instantaneously into their tubes at the slightest detection of one's presence. A very stealthy approach was required for this picture, which was taken 20 cms. from the animal. Bali, Indonesia.

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Size: 5444px × 3648px
Location: Near Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
Photo credit: © Terence Dormer / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: adventure, bali, beautiful, coral, creation, diving, duster, fan, feather, indica, indonesia, life, marine, natural, nature, patterns, reef, scuba, sebellastarte, selection, trd5143, tube, underwater, worm