Green Bomber Worms

10/13/2009

It's always exciting when new species are discovered, particularly when they are as odd the the seven species of "green bomber worms" that were recently described for the first time by researches at the University of California San Diego.

Dr. Karen Osborn and her team were doing deep ocean research and collected some of the worms, which are unquestionably odd.  Their bodies are translucent, making their internal organs clearly visible.  They sport rows of bristles along their sides which they use for swimming.  And five of the species have round, green, bioluminescent structures near their head.  They can release these "bombs" if threatened by a predator.  The bombs light up and attract the predator's attention while the worm swims away backward into the dark water.

VIDEO: Watch the worms in action.