The deep sea, that dark and mysterious world, seems to be a paradise inhabited by alien creatures. Once we bravely step into the deep sea realm where sunlight cannot penetrate, it is like entering a fantasy ecological stage that shines in the dark.
Imagine that in that bottomless methane leakage environment, there lives a novel worm called Pectinereis Strickrotti. This worm, like a shining pearl in the deep sea, shimmers with a mysterious light. Its discovery not only marks the 48th new species found in the methane leak off the coast of Costa Rica, but also gives us a new understanding of an environment that was once considered unsuitable for life.
The research team, led by Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, said the discovery reveals that our understanding of the Earth's oceans and their wildlife diversity is still very limited. "We've spent years naming and describing the biodiversity of the deep sea, but now we're discovering more new species than we've had time to name and describe," Rouse lamented. This is a great demonstration of the undiscovered richness of biodiversity in the deep sea. We need to continue to explore the deep sea and work to protect this mysterious territory. ”
The deep sea, for human beings, is a world full of challenges and unknowns. Intense pressure, cold temperatures, and dark conditions all make it difficult for us to reach this mysterious realm. However, it is these harsh conditions that give birth to many amazing creatures.
Currently, we have explored only 5% of the world's oceans, while an estimated 10% of deep-sea life has been cataloged. This means that there are still many unknown biological species and ecological phenomena hidden in the deep sea. The discovery of Strickroti worm is a microcosm of deep-sea biodiversity.
Although the deep sea is full of challenges for humans, we have never stopped exploring this area. In 2009, Rouse and his colleague Bruce Strickrott encountered the new species for the first time at a depth of about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) during a manned dive off the coast of Costa Rica. Recalling the scene, Strickrott said, "We saw two worms about the length of a submarine swimming at the bottom. We tried to get close to observe, but it was difficult to move in the submarine, and in the end we even scared them away. ”
After years of hard work, the research team finally returned to the same location in 2018. To their surprise, this time they encountered the same creatures - not one, but six, swimming confidently in the water. This time, the submersible was able to get close to these mysterious creatures, providing the research team with valuable images, ** and specimen information.
Through the analysis of these data, the research team found that Strickroti worms are a new marine worm belonging to the family of marine nematodes, also known as ragworms. Compared to other members, Strickroti worms have some unique characteristics. First of all, it lives in the darkness of the deep sea and is therefore blind. Second, its parapods are covered with gills, unlike most known ragweeds. In addition, the life stages of this worm are also different from other members of the Nereidae family.
At present, the research team is still deeply exploring the lifestyle and ecological role of this strange worm. They don't know what the creature eats, or why it needs those special non-reproductive upper foot traits. However, these unknown questions are the beauty of deep-sea exploration.
The discovery of the Strickroti worm not only gives us a deeper understanding of deep-sea biodiversity, but also makes us full of curiosity and awe about this mysterious and unknown world. As Rouse puts it, "We need to continue to explore the deep ocean and protect it." "Let's work together to unravel the mysteries of the deep sea and discover the strange wonders that have yet to be discovered.