Invertebrates
Mediterranean Fanworm
Sabella spallanzanii
On the pilings of a Mediterranean harbour, a Mediterranean fanworm spreads a banded spiral crown into the current, then vanishes into its tube at a diver’s touch.
Overview
The Mediterranean fanworm, Sabella spallanzanii, is a large tube-dwelling worm of sheltered harbours and rocky ground in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, and an invader in Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere. Its spiral crown, instant retreat, and hull-fouling habits make it one of the best-known marine fouling invaders.
A worm that hitches a ride
Larvae and adults carried on the hulls of ships have established fanworm populations in harbours on the far side of the world, where they can form dense clumps.
Status
Not Evaluated, and invasive outside its native range.
Mediterranean Fanworm: common questions
How does a fanworm feed?
It uses the fine, feathery tentacles of its crown to trap plankton and tiny particles from the water.
Why does it vanish when touched?
It pulls its crown into the tube instantly if it is touched or threatened, like other fanworms.
Why is it called an invader?
It has been carried by ships to Australia, New Zealand, and other countries, where it settles on hulls, wharves, and moorings in dense clumps.
Where is the Mediterranean fanworm native?
It is native to the Mediterranean and nearby parts of the eastern Atlantic.