Deep-sea, swimming worms with luminescent "bombs".

Full Abstract

By using remotely operated vehicles, we found seven previously unknown species of swimming annelid worms below 1800 meters. Specimens were large and bore a variety of elaborate head appendages. In addition, five species have pairs of ellipsoidal organs homologous to branchiae that produce brilliant green bioluminescence when autotomized. Five genes were used to determine the evolutionary relationships of these worms within Cirratuliformia. These species form a clade within Acrocirridae and were not closely related to either of the two known pelagic cirratuliforms. Thus, this clade represents a third invasion of the pelagic realm from Cirratuliformia. This finding emphasizes the wealth of discoveries to be made in pelagic and deep demersal habitats.

Author information

Author/s: Osborn, Karen J (KJ); Haddock, Steven H D (SH); Pleijel, Fredrik (F); Madin, Laurence P (LP); Rouse, Greg W (GW);

Affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. kjosborn(-atsign-)ucsd.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 325 (issue 5943) : pp 964

Dates: Created 2009/08/21; Completed 2009/09/02;

PMID: 19696343, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/4/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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