#protula

AKA Protula (Philippiprotula) magnifica, Protula magnifica, Serpula (Spiramella) bispiralis, Serpula bispiralis and Spiramella bispiralis.

From the Mt Harris Formation, which as far as I can figure out is from the Altonian Stage of the Lower Miocene (18.7 - to 15.9Mya). The species is still around, though - assuming it actually IS the same species as the large tube worms now found parts of southern Africa, SE Asian coastlines, Australia and New Zealand. It's not impossible it's the same species, but there really aren't many distinctive features in a calcareous tube.

Red fanworms grow to over 60mm in a tube of up to 10mm in diameter, attached to rock, the underside of boulders, and in crevices. They sprout two bright orange-red spirals of feathery branches that they use to catch microplankton.

It's the big one in the middle. These large tubeworms, probably Protula sp., are reasonably common washed up on Australian beaches. The fanworm's calcareous tubes are grown attached to shells, or any other firm surface, and can form the bulk of fist-sized masses of tubeworms, oysters, and other marine creatures.

IMG_5993-4 by Ana Lama