Description: This serpulid worm builds a white calcareous tube around 2 mm (occasionally up to 8 mm) in diameter which is adhered to hard substrata. They usually occur on their own, rather than in groups and do not form reefs. There is no operculum. Usually all that may be visible is the crown of radioles with 15-25 bright red blotches and eyespots; these may appear almost completely red in some individuals or white or pink with red blotches in others.

Habitat: Builds a calcareous tube on hard substrata.

Distribution: Recorded from most coasts around Britain and Ireland, but seems almost absent from east coast of Britain and SE Ireland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Serpula vermicularis but it has a visible operculum.

Key Identification Features:

• White calcareous tube attached to hard substrata.
• No operculum.
• Crown of radioles with 15-25 bright red blotches.

Distribution Map from NBN: Protula tubularia at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Protula tubularia at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Protula tubularia

WoRMS: Protula tubularia at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Protula tubularia (Montagu, 1803). AphiaID: 131035.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Annelida; Polychaeta; Sedentaria; Canalipalpata; Sabellida; Serpulidae; Filograninae; Protula