Galeolaria hystrix

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Galeolaria hystrix
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Polychaeta
Subclass: Palpata
Order: Canalipalpata
Suborder: Sabellida
Family: Serpulidae
Genus: Galeolaria
Species: G. hystrix
Binomial name
Galeolaria hystrix
Mörch, 1863

Galeolaria hystrix is a sabellid worm of the family Serpulidae, endemic to southern Australia and New Zealand under rocks or on kelp holdfasts below low tide level.

Galeolaria hystrix lives in a hard white calcareous tube up to 25 mm long of calcium carbonate firmly attached to a solid object in a protected area such as underneath a boulder. The randomly wavy tube has a double crest running along the top, and at the top of the entrance are two sharp points. This species is normally solitary and does not form colonies as many other similar worms do, except in deep locations.

The animal is deep pinkish-red and the gills and operculum are orange banded with white. The operculum bears several concentric rows of curved spines.

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