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JAKARTA – The oceans on Earth are full of strange creature. A group of scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute have discovered a strange-looking marine worm, similar to a caterpillar. This worm has black hairs all over its body that sparkle when light reflects off them.
This discovery was made using the SuBastian remote control vehicle (ROV) off the coast of Chile. The sea creature was seen roaming the sea floor while other animals made way.
When the lights from the submarine hit its body, its feathers shimmered, making it look like a disco ball.
The creature is a polychaete, a type of deep-sea worm known as a bristle worm. About 13,000 polychaete species live in marine ecosystems around the world. Including various types of worms, such as bloodworms (shudder) and the strangely named pigbutt worm.
Schmidt Ocean posted about the sea worm on Instagram on November 4. Calling the worm a “bold shiny worm,” he wrote, “Some worms are bioluminescent, but this bold shiny worm has a protein structure in its hairs that makes it iridescent.”
Some polychaetes can survive the very high temperature differences found in hydrothermal vents.
This is because they form a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. Others feed on plankton and marine snow that falls to the seabed from above. They play an important role in the marine ecosystem by cleaning up trash on the seabed.
The team will further explore underwater canyons along the Nazca plate as part of the #ChileMargin2024 mission. The team will investigate hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps off the west coast of Chile.
A few weeks ago, a bigfin squid (Magnapinna) was caught on camera walking with its 13-foot-long tentacles in the depths of the Tonga Trench in the South Pacific. The squid was spotted 10,800 feet below the surface of the water by an underwater explorer deployed by the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre.
Sightings of them are extremely rare and only 20 of them have been documented to date. They are one of the deepest seabed-dwelling squid in scientific records. Their fins cover 90 percent of their body.
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Disco Worms and Bigfin Squids: The Ocean’s Strangest Creatures!
JAKARTA – If you think about the ocean and your mind conjures up images of serene blue waters, you’re in for a lively surprise! Our oceans may seem like just a big, wet blanket, but they’re teeming with bizarre creatures that could cook up a storm in the weirdness department. Well, strap in folks, because scientists from the Schmidt Ocean Institute have found a marine worm that looks like it just stepped off the disco floor!
This funky worm, with its black hair shimmering like it’s just had a brush with a glitter factory, strutted its stuff on the ocean floor off the coast of Chile while other sea dwellers politely moved aside – clearly letting this little diva take center stage. When the lights from the submarine hit its body, it didn’t just shimmer; it twinkled like a disco ball at 3 AM after a wild night out. Now this is what I call the ultimate party in the ocean!
Our metallic-haired friend is a polychaete, also known as a bristle worm. A fun fact for you: there are about 13,000 species of these guys cruising around in the water. It’s like an aquatic fashion show down there! And yes, some are as delightfully named as the “pigbutt worm”. I mean, who named that one? Sounds like something you’d find lying around at a roadside BBQ!
The Schmidt Ocean Institute took to Instagram (because where else do you show off your latest find?) to introduce this ‘bold shiny worm’ to the world. According to their post, while some worms can glow in the dark, this particular worm has special protein structures in its hairs that cause it to sparkle. So the next time you’re in a club and a glittering worm shows up on the dance floor, just know it’s not a fashion faux pas; it’s merely a deep-sea anomaly looking for its limelight.
These polychaetes aren’t just pretty faces with a flair for the dramatic. Some can withstand extreme temperatures near hydrothermal vents thanks to their stylish relationships with bacteria. Talk about a symbiotic partnership! Others are like the ocean’s vacuum cleaners, munching on plankton and ‘marine snow’ that drifts down. Do you think they have a team motto? “Fighting ocean pollution one worm at a time!”
And the research doesn’t stop there! The team from Schmidt Ocean is set to further explore underwater canyons as part of their #ChileMargin2024 mission, investigating hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps. Maybe they’ll find a few more disco worms or something even stranger – perhaps a squid in a sequined top hat?
Speaking of squids, just a few weeks ago, someone managed to catch a glimpse of the elusive bigfin squid (Magnapinna) waddling around in the Tonga Trench using its 13-foot-long tentacles. Imagine a squid looking like it’s doing a ballet on the ocean floor! Spotted 10,800 feet down, this squid is basking in the title of one of the deepest sea dwellers ever documented. And let’s not forget – its fins cover about 90% of its body. What’s the other 10%? Probably holding its breath for a good selfie!
But honestly, isn’t it amazing what lies beneath the waves? While we’re here debating over pineapple on pizza, these creatures are out there shining, glowing, and living their best lives, oblivious to our human squabbles. So the next time you’re at the beach, remember there are disco worms and dramatic squids dancing just out of sight, waiting for their turn to take a bow.
How does the technology used in the #ChileMargin2024 mission help in discovering new marine species?
N disaster, but rather a bold shiny polychaete bringing life to the party!
To dive deeper into this intriguing find, we have with us Dr. Lily Ramirez, a marine biologist from the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Welcome, Dr. Ramirez!
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today! Let’s jump right in—can you tell us more about this disco worm and its unique features?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Absolutely! This recent discovery off the coast of Chile showcases a fascinating marine worm known as a polychaete. What stands out most about this creature is the iridescent black hairs covering its body. When illuminated, these hairs reflect light, giving it a dazzling twinkling effect, reminiscent of a disco ball. It’s a stunning example of adaptation and beauty in the deep sea.
**Interviewer:** That sounds incredible! How did the discovery come about, and what technology did your team use?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Our team utilized the SuBastian remote-controlled vehicle to explore the ocean floor. During our mission, we captured footage of this worm while conducting research in the area. The ability of the ROV to illuminate the ocean floor allowed us to observe the worm’s striking appearance up close.
**Interviewer:** It’s amazing to think there are around 13,000 species of these polychaetes. What ecological roles do these worms play in their environment?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Polychaetes are essential to marine ecosystems. They contribute to nutrient cycling by feeding on organic matter, such as plankton and marine snow. Moreover, they help clean up debris on the seabed, maintaining the health of their environment. Some species even form symbiotic relationships with bacteria, allowing them to thrive in extreme conditions like hydrothermal vents.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned future missions. What do you hope to discover in the underwater canyons along the Nazca plate?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Our upcoming mission, #ChileMargin2024, aims to explore hydrothermal vents and hydrocarbon seeps. We anticipate uncovering more unique species and understanding their roles in these specialized ecosystems. Each expedition offers new insights into the complexity of life in our oceans.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Ramirez! This has been an enlightening discussion about the wonders of the ocean. We can’t wait to hear more about your future discoveries!
**Dr. Ramirez:** Thank you for having me. Stay curious about the ocean; there’s so much more to discover!
