Biology

Scientists discover Gossamer-like Sea creature

Scientists have discovered a gossamer-like creature at the bottom of the ocean bed between Indonesia and Philippines coast. This Squidworm have arms on its head and use bristles to swim. This squidworm measures 9.4cm (3.4inch) in length in morphology. Scientists say squidworms live about 100 to 200 meters above the ocean bed and plunges up to 6,200 meters at its deepest which is a rich layer of undiscovered fauna and flora.

The squidworm has ten tentacles along its body and its head stick out of it. The body part also comprises six pairs of curved nuchal organs allow the squidworm to taste and smell underwater. It controls the course and position by moving two body-length rows of thin, paddle-shaped protrusions. It also has the feature to swim upright with the fantastic headgear.

Scientist from Scripps Institute of Oceanography in California and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts have named Squidworm as Teuthidodrilus samae, a new genus and species of deep pelagic communities.

Teuthidodrilus samae did not appeared to be a predator but it feeds on passing plankton and marine snow which is a mix of sinking microscopic plants and animals, faecal material and cast-off mucus. Karen Osborn the marine biologists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California had earlier discovered unknown animals in the Celebes Sea at a depth of 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) using a remotely-operated submersible. Karen Osborn expectation was something unattainable because the animal was different from other species discovered earlier.

Karen Osborn estimated that when exploring in deep sea water column more than half the animals are not yet identified and this discovery will be new to science. Till now under ocean exploration are unable to be reached since the tools used for collecting samples are either scrapped or severely mutilated or disfigured which leads to higher complication in recognizing the specimen when brought to the surfaces.