Scientists have discovered seven new species of deep-sea worms in the Pacific. The worms, members of a new genus, Swima, are up to about four inches long, eyeless and have paddle-like bristles that move rapidly, allowing them to swim forward or backward.
That’s all very interesting, but what makes the worms truly spectacular are the little green glow sticks that are found on five of the species. Attached to segments near the head, these tiny organs — more blobs than sticks, actually — can be released from the body, instantly producing a bright green bioluminescence that lasts for many seconds as the worms swim away.
Full story by Henry Fountain on The New York Times
0 comments:
Post a Comment