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Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus sp.)

Photographer Valerie Taylor (born 1935)

Date1953-2000

Object numberANMS1468[856]

NamePhotographic slide

MediumColour transparency film

DimensionsOverall (inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor

Terms

DescriptionMarine worms, in all their various colours, shapes and sizes, are found everywhere in the ocean as their elongated bodies allow them to move through both sediment and water with ease. They contribute to a significant proportion of the biodiversity and biomass underwater, with species coming from multiple phyla including segmented worms (Annelida), flatworms (Platyhelminthes) and roundworms (Nematoda). Marine worms occupy a variety of highly important ecological roles including predators, filter feeders, detritivores, bioturbators and parasites. SignificanceThe simplest definition of macro photography is taking a picture of something so that it appears larger than it is in real life. This technique reveals the tiny hidden wonders of our world. In the early 1970s, Ron made Valerie the first known macrophotography set up for an underwater camera, with extension tubes and framers. Her stunning close-up shots of Great Barrier Reef corals were the cover story for the June 1973 issue of National Geographic. With this setup, Valerie was able to take some of the first high quality macro photographs of very small creatures, like the worms seen in this archive.