# Northern Feather Duster Worm (*eudistylia vancouveri*) The Northern Feather Duster Worm is a fascinating marine creature that builds a beautiful tube from sand and tiny particles. Its colorful feathers wave in the water, helping it catch food like plankton! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** This worm lives in the ocean, often found in sandy or muddy sea floors. - **Also known as:** Feather Duster Worm, Sand Worm, Vancouver Feather Duster ![Northern Feather Duster Worm](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eudistylia_vancouveri_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: NOAA, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eudistylia_vancouveri_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Feather Duster Worm has a long, leathery tube fixed to rocks. From this tube emerge vibrant, feathery plumes that can be orange, brown, white, or red. These plumes form a circular crown, distinctly different from other worms with simpler tentacles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Annelida - **Class:** Polychaeta - **Order:** Sabellida - **Family:** Sabellidae - **Genus:** Eudistylia ## Interesting facts - If their colorful crown is lost, they can regrow a brand-new one! - Some duster worms can grow longer than a ruler! - Their amazing tube home protects them like a secret underwater castle! - These worms breathe through their beautiful, feathery plumes! ## Special abilities - **Quick Retreat:** Northern Feather Duster Worm can vanish in a flash by retracting its delicate plumes into its tube, which helps them escape from sudden danger. - **Water Cleaner:** Northern Feather Duster Worm has feather-like plumes that capture tiny food particles, because this helps them eat and keep the ocean clear. - **Home Builder:** Northern Feather Duster Worm can build a tough, leathery tube by secreting mucus and binding sediment, which helps them create a safe, permanent home. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-30 - **Size:** 1-2 - **Lifespan:** 5-10 - **Tentacle Span Cm:** 5-15 ## Diet & Feeding These worms are like living strainers, catching tiny bits of food floating in the ocean water. - **Primary Foods:** phytoplankton, zooplankton, marine detritus - **Foraging Method:** Filter feeding ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Ochre Sea Star](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ochre-sea-star) (*Pisaster ochraceus*) — Sea stars might graze on exposed plumes. - **Eaten by:** Red Rock Crab (*Cancer productus*) — Crabs can sometimes pull worms from their tubes. - **Eaten by:** Six-rayed Sea Star (*Leptasterias hexactis*) — This smaller sea star also preys on marine worms. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Feather Duster Worm? Look for fins, arms, tentacles, shells and body symmetry. Underwater light shifts colors, so structure and markings usually matter more than shade. Sea Creature Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Feather Duster Worm? 10-30 ### How big is Northern Feather Duster Worm? 1-2 ### How long does Northern Feather Duster Worm live? 5-10 ### What does Northern Feather Duster Worm eat? These worms are like living strainers, catching tiny bits of food floating in the ocean water. ### Where is Northern Feather Duster Worm usually found? This worm lives in the ocean, often found in sandy or muddy sea floors. ### How does Northern Feather Duster Worm hunt? Filter feeding ### What is the tentacle Span Cm of Northern Feather Duster Worm? 5-15 ## Where to spot - [Pike Place Market](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pike-place-market) — Washington, US · Historic District - [Saxman Totem Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saxman-totem-park) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [East Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Old Town Eureka](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-town-eureka) — California, US · Historic District [View all places to see Northern Feather Duster Worm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-feather-duster-worm) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Northern Feather Duster Worm Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-feather-duster-worm)