A tube worm is any worm-like sessile invertebrate that anchors its tail to an underwater surface and secretes around its body a mineral tube, into which it can withdraw its entire body.
Tube worms are found among the following taxa:
Annelida, the phylum containing segmented worms
Polychaetea, the class containing bristle worms
Canalipalpata, the order containing bristle-footed annelids or fan-head worms
Siboglinidae, the family of beard worms
Riftia pachyptila, a species known as giant tube worms
Lamellibrachia, a genus
Serpulidae, a family
Sabellidae, the family containing feather duster worms
Phoronida, the phylum containing horseshoe worms
Microconchida, an order of extinct tubeworms
Kuphus polythalamia, a bivalve mollusc species whose common name is giant tube worm
