A kind of newly discovered sea worm, aptly named Pectinereis strickrottileft the scientists in admiration because of its unique movement, which has been described as resembling a “Magic carpet living. “This mysterious creature was spotted for the first time in 2009, but it was only a decade later that a dedicated research team returned to the deep waters off Costa Rica to further explore the behavior of the animal.
A unique creature discovery
Located 30 miles off Costa Rica, Pectinereis strickrotti was found to be resident of methane oozing from the Pacific Ocean, a region teeming with unusual and poorly understood forms of life. Liv versesE about 1,000 meters below the surface of the ocean, A place where methane ooys create an extraordinary ecosystem. These oozes, which emit gaseous methane deep in the earth, support a wide variety of species that feed on bacteria that consume methane.
The worms themselves are a type of foal from the foal and Measure about 10 centimeters in length. Their most distinctive characteristic is their parapods, which resemble feathers and add to their graceful and almost ethereal movement in water. The way in which the towards Glide through the bottom of the ocean fascinated the researchers, with the main pilot Bruce Strickrott, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, describing it as “a living magic carpet”.
Explore methane ooys
Researchers have explored methane ooys in the region since 2009, and this last discovery of Pectinereis strickrotti is part of a broader effort to understand the biodiversity of ecosystems on the high seas. These Methane Seeps shelter many species that thrive in the absence of sun, based rather on chemosynthesis – a process by which bacteria Convert methane and other chemicals into food.
The discovery of Pectinereis strickrotti Add to an increasing list of new species found in these habitats on the high seas. Since 2009, scientists identified 48 new species In methane infiltrates the coast of Costa Rica, highlighting rich biodiversity, but largely unexplored deep ocean. As noted by the Marine Greg Rouse biologist at the University of California, “we have spent years trying to appoint and describe the biodiversity of the deep sea”, further stressing the importance of continuous exploration.
A graceful movement
During the 2019 expedition, methane ooys, including six New sea lines have been observed. Their movement, described by Strickrott as “graceful”, distinguished itself to the researchers, who marveled from the effect they created by swimming. “The way this thing moved was so graceful, I thought it looked like a living magic carpet,” said Strickrott.
THE study Of these unique animals and their behavior gives an essential overview of how life can adapt to extreme environments. Methane oozes, which are inhospitable to most life forms because of their difficult conditions, provide an improbable refuge for these resilient creatures. In the broader context of marine research, the discovery of Pectinereis strickrotti Underlines how unexplored the ocean remains.
