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The Serpulidae are a family of sessile, tube-building annelid worms in the category Polychaeta. The members of this family differ from different sabellid tube worms in that they have a specialized operculum that blocks the entrance of their tubes once they withdraw into the tubes. In addition, serpulids secrete tubes of calcium carbonate. Serpulids are an important biomineralizers amongst annelids. About 300 species within the family Serpulidae are recognized, all but one of which stay in saline waters. The blood of most species of serpulid and sabellid worms accommodates the oxygen-binding pigment chlorocruorin. This is used to transport oxygen to the tissues. It has an affinity for carbon monoxide which is 570 occasions as strong 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 worm snails. The obvious distinction is that serpulid shells are dull inside, whereas the molluscan vermetid shells are shiny inside.
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