Scientists have discovered seven new species of deep-sea worms in the Pacific. The worms, members of a new genus, Swima, are up to 10 centimeters long and have paddlelike bristles that allow them to swim forward or backward.

What makes them truly spectacular, however, are the green glow sticks found on five of the species. Attached near the head, these tiny organs - more blobs than sticks, actually - can be released from the body, producing a bright green bioluminescence as the worms swim away.

Using remotely operated submersibles, Karen J. Osborn of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and colleagues from other organizations found the worms 1,800 to 3,800 meters deep off Mexico, California and Oregon and near the Philippines. Their report appeared in the journal Science.

The scientists refer to the worms colloquially as green bombers and suggest that predators trying to disturb them would be left with the glowing blobs instead of the tasty meal they hoped for.


HENRY FOUNTAIN


Deep-sea worms use glowing blobs to distract predators.