MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) | Give this beautiful deep-sea worm some love 💙 @MBARIvideo | Uploaded August 2023 | Updated October 2024, 19 hours ago.
Flota sp. is a free-swimming worm often seen near the deep seafloor, more than 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) below the surface. These fascinating worms propel themselves by moving their bodies, parapodia, and spines. They emit a scintillating blue glow, but scientists are not sure how this helps them survive in the depths.⠀
They are part of the larger group of polychaete worms, which have segmented bodies, with each segment sporting many little bristles (chaetae). The bristles serve different purposes in different worms, from crawling to swimming to defense.
Flota sp. is a free-swimming worm often seen near the deep seafloor, more than 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) below the surface. These fascinating worms propel themselves by moving their bodies, parapodia, and spines. They emit a scintillating blue glow, but scientists are not sure how this helps them survive in the depths.⠀
They are part of the larger group of polychaete worms, which have segmented bodies, with each segment sporting many little bristles (chaetae). The bristles serve different purposes in different worms, from crawling to swimming to defense.
