Spirobranchus kraussii
# Spirobranchus kraussii

Spirobranchus kraussii, the blue coral-worm, is a species of marine invertebrate in the family Serpulidae of order Sabellida. It is native to the Indian Ocean.

## Synonyms

* Placostegus caeruleus Schmarda, 1861 (confused, subjective synonym of two other taxa)
* Placostegus cariniferus kraussii Baird, 1865 (superseded original combination)
* Placostegus latiligulatus Baird, 1865
* Placostegus ornatus articulata Mörch, 1863 (subjective synonym)
* Pomatoceros (Pomatoleios) caerulescens Augener, 1922 (subjective synonym)
* Pomatoleios caerulescens Augener, 1922 (subjective synonym)
* Pomatoleios crosslandi Pixell, 1913 (subjective synonym)
* Pomatoleios kraussii (Baird, 1865) (superseded recombination)
* Pomatoleios kraussii manilensis Pillai, 1965 (subjective synonym)

## Distribution

* Indo-West Pacific
* Cape Peninsula to Mozambique
* South Africa
* Mediterranean Sea (alien)
* Gulf of Mexico (from synonym)
* Madagascar (from synonym)
* North Atlantic Ocean European waters [from synonym]
* Red Sea
* Persian Gulf
* Australia
* Japan
* India
* Hawaii

## Description

The head has two rows of feathery branches and a stalked operculum with two pointed wings and a flat cap. Length about 15mm and tubes are about 2mm inside diameter.

## Habitat

The blue coral-worm builds massive colonies of interwoven calcareous tubes, which can be locally abundant on moderately exposed rocky shores. It is a filter feeder.

