New deep-sea worm species identified
Marine scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have discovered a new species of deep-sea worm in the waters near a methane seep about 50 kilometres off Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Named Pectinereis strickrotti, the worm hails from the ragworm family and is distinguished by their feathery appendages that carry its gills. It was first discovered by Greg Rouse and Bruce Strickrott in 2009 when they were inside the submersible Alvin during an expedition at a depth of 1,000 metres.