''Sabella'' is a genus of marine
polychaete
Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine annelid worms, commonly called bristle worms or polychaetes (). Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia that bear many bristles, called chaetae, which are ...
worm. Members of this genus are
filter feeder
Filter feeders are a sub-group of suspension feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. Some animals that use this method of feedin ...
s and there are about ninety species. They live in tubes made of mud that project from the sand surface. They have a crown of feathery tentacles that protrude when the animal is submerged but are retracted when the animal is above water.
[Barrett, J. & C. M. Yonge (1958) ''Collins Pocket Guide to the Sea Shore.'' Collins, London]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3890014
Sabellida