title: Spirobranchus kraussii
text: # 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  * Placostegus cariniferus kraussii Baird, 1865 (superseded original combination)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  * Pomatoleios kraussii (Baird, 1865) (superseded recombination)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.
  
  