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Hemichordates: Hemichordata - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Hawaiian Acorn Worm (ptychodera Flava): Species Accounts, Spaghetti Worm (saxipendium Coronatum): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, HEMICHORDATES AND PEOP

live water algae diatoms

HAWAIIAN ACORN WORM (Ptychodera flava): SPECIES ACCOUNTS
SPAGHETTI WORM (Saxipendium coronatum): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Hemichordates live in all the oceans of the world.


Adult acorn worms usually live in shallow water in burrows at the bottom, but sometimes they live in the sand inside shells, under rocks, in thick seaweed, or between root tangles. Colony-forming hemichordates usually live in deep water in the tubes they make from mucus.

Hemichordates eat bacteria, microscopic algae, diatoms, and nutrients they scrape from particles of sand and mud or collect from the water. Algae (AL-jee) are plantlike growths that live in water and have no true roots, stems, or leaves. Diatoms (DYE-uh-tahms) are a type of algae that have a shell.


Hemichordates have no known importance to people.


Hemichordates are not considered threatened or endangered.

Additional Topics

Hemichordates: Hemichordata - Physical Characteristics

Hemichordates: Hemichordata - Behavior And Reproduction

Acorn worms live alone sheltered in their burrows, under rocks, or in thick tangles of plants. The burrowing species use their snout for digging. They line the U-shaped burrows with mucus to strengthen the walls. One end of the "U" is a cone-shaped dent, and the other is a pile of feces (FEE-seez) a short distance away. The rest of the burrow is underground and sometimes has a few si…

Hemichordates: Hemichordata - Hawaiian Acorn Worm (ptychodera Flava): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Hawaiian acorn worms are yellowish brown and have a small cone-shaped snout, short collar, and long trunk. Geographic range: Hawaiian acorn worms live in the Pacific Ocean near Japan, Australia, Hawaii, and the Galápagos Islands and in the Indian Ocean near Mauritius and Maldives. Habitat: Hawaiian acorn worms live in the sea near coastlines. Diet: Hawaiian acorn w…

Hemichordates: Hemichordata - Spaghetti Worm (saxipendium Coronatum): Species Accounts

Physical characteristics: Spaghetti worms are thin and yellowish white. They can be as long as 10 feet (3 meters). The snout tapers to a soft point toward the front, and the collar is short. Geographic range: Spaghetti worms live in the Pacific Ocean near the Galápagos Islands. Habitat: Spaghetti worms live in the deepest ocean loosely attached to rocks near hydrothermal (high-druh-THUR-muh…

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