Detecting worm species with eyes at the tail

Ampharete oculicirrata is found at a depth of 120m with an eye on the head and eyes on the caudal peduncle.

A strange creature was discovered by the team from the Natural Conservation Joint Commission (JNCC), Scottish Marine Science and Mr. Thomson, environmental adviser. Reported in the European Journal of Taxonomy, the team concluded that this is a species that has never been recognized and found before.

Sea worm Ampharete oculicirrata found at a depth of 120m.(Photo: IFL Science).

The worm was named Ampharete oculicirrata by the team . This is a rare worm, with eyes on the head and two eyes on the tail stalks. By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), they proved that this worm is unique and different from other marine pests to separate into a new species. Currently there are at least 40 species of organisms belonging to the genus Ampharete.

Ampharete oculicirrata is found at a depth of 120 m (400 feet) above sea level at West Shetland marine reserve, northern Scotland. The worm has a length of 10mm and a width of 1mm. The team has gathered 85 deep-sea individuals. Deep-sea individuals are preserved in the Scottish National Museum.

"Finding a new marine worm at a relatively shallow depth of the Scottish coast shows the diversity of marine life in the ocean and so many new creatures waiting to be discovered" , maritime adviser Jessica Taylor said. Now researchers are finding and studying other biological characteristics from this species.

From the depths of this marine species, researchers at JNCC and MSS have also found many other rare and precious sea creatures living at 100 - 600m water levels such as snake-tailed starfish, some shrimp species and polychaete worms. .

1. Two more deep-sea species were discovered
2. Deep sea re-exported after 140 years