Filter feeding in polychaeta?

Polychaeta is a class of annelid worms that includes a diverse group of marine organisms. While not all polychaetes are filter feeders, many species within this class engage in filter feeding to obtain their food.

Filter feeding in polychaetes involves the capture and ingestion of small particles suspended in the water column. These particles can include plankton, detritus, and organic matter. Polychaetes that are filter feeders typically possess specialized structures called tentacles or palps that are used to collect and manipulate the food particles.

One example of a filter-feeding polychaete is the Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus). This species has a tube-like structure that it constructs on coral reefs. It extends its colorful, feathery tentacles out of the tube and uses them to filter tiny plankton and organic matter from the water.

Another example is the fan worm (Sabellidae family), which has a crown of feathery tentacles that it extends into the water to capture food particles. These tentacles have cilia or bristles that help in the filtration process.

Filter feeding in polychaetes allows them to efficiently obtain nutrients from the surrounding water, making it an important feeding strategy for many species within this class.