Holiday SEAson: 5 Festive Ocean Animals
December 15, 2025 | By: Steff Ruf
Celebrate the holiday season with these five festive ocean animals! Whether you’re looking for decorating ideas or thinking about your favorite holiday treats, these ocean animals are sure to inspire you. Dive in and discover how they bring their festive flair to the underwater world!
CHRISTMAS TREE WORM

This spindly species may look like a miniature tree, but it’s actually a type of worm — aptly named the Christmas Tree Worm! Its colorful “branches,” known as radioles, help it catch food drifting through the water. If startled, the worm quickly retreats into the reef crevices it calls home. While they might seem like the perfect substitute for a holiday tree, keep in mind these fascinating creatures only grow to about 1.5 inches tall!
DECORATOR CRAB

Need some help getting your home ready for the holiday season? Take a cue from the Decorator Crab! This name refers to several crab species known for adorning their shells with algae, coral, sponges, and other organisms as a form of camouflage. With their unique and crafty style, these creative crabs are sure to get you in the holiday spirit!
CANDY CANE SHRIMP

This isn’t a candy cane; it’s a shrimp! The Candy Cane Pistol Shrimp are not only known for their red and white stripes, but also for their large claw that creates a loud snapping noise that stuns their prey. Another key characteristic about this species is that they have a mutualistic relationship with watchman gobies, where the shrimp burrow their bodies into the sand and the goby acts as a lookout. Nothing like a little friendship to get you in the holiday spirit!
PINECONE FISH

The pinecone fish, with its scale-like plates that act like armor and gentle bioluminescent glow, are often found drifting through shadowy reefs at night, shimmering like a living lantern—perfect for adding a bit of underwater festive magic to the season.
IVORY BUSH CORAL

Dreaming of a white winter? The Ivory Bush Coral offers a touch of snowy magic year-round, resembling a tree dusted in fresh snow. At depths of 50 to over 100 meters (164 to 328 feet), this deep-seal coral gets its ‘snowy’ appearance from the absence of symbiotic algae that make coral vibrant, revealing its white calcium carbonate structure. Beyond its beauty, the Ivory Bush Coral provides structure and protection for many species throughout its lifetime, and filter feeds on plankton carried by the deep-sea current.


