Ciliated larva of a tubeworm

Ciliated larva of a tubeworm from the Gulf of Mexico, reared in the laboratory. At this stage, there is a very broad band of moving cilia that cause the larvae to spin and propel it forward. The bump on top is the posterior end of the worm, which has started to elongate. This photograph was taken with a scanning electron microscope. Image courtesy of Gulf of Mexico 2002, NOAA/OER.

Related Links

Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico: The Wayward Children of Worms

NOAA Ocean Explorer Gallery