The Serpulidae are a household of sessile, tube-constructing annelid worms in the class Polychaeta. The members of this family differ from different sabellid tube worms in that they have a specialised operculum that blocks the entrance of their tubes when they withdraw into the tubes. As well as, serpulids secrete tubes of calcium carbonate. Serpulids are an important biomineralizers amongst annelids. About 300 species in the household Serpulidae are known, all however one among which live in saline waters. The blood of most species of serpulid and sabellid worms incorporates the oxygen-binding pigment chlorocruorin. That is used to transport oxygen to the tissues. It has an affinity for BloodVitals insights carbon monoxide which is 570 instances as sturdy as that of the haemoglobin found in human blood. Empty serpulid shells can generally be confused with the shells of a family of marine gastropod mollusks, the Vermetidae or BloodVitals insights worm snails. The obvious difference is that serpulid shells are dull inside, whereas the molluscan vermetid shells are shiny inside.

Rossana Sanfilippo