Status: 31/08/2023, 22:36 p.m.
By: Ulrike Hagen
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Scientists have discovered two new types of worms in the caves of Mallorca. One of the worms cannot be assigned to any pre-existing species.
Palma – In Italy, a rare sea sow was found off a popular holiday island last year. Now, researchers have discovered previously unknown worm species in caves on the Balearic island. These specimens exhibit unique properties that distinguish them from the already known polychaetes, the so-called many-bristles. One has a highly visible, red-colored brain and "parrot-shaped" jaws, while the other has numerous long tentacles with which it absorbs food.
Two new species of worms have been found in a cave in Mallorca. One of the animals is related to a lineage from the depths of the Pacific. © María Capa/CEAB-CSIC
Worms discovered in caves where survival of organisms is hardly possible
The story of discovery began in 2019 with a first scientific diving expedition to the remote and hard-to-reach Anchialine Cave in Mallorca, where tourists have to pay fines of up to 36,000 euros for "balconing", according to a statement from the Blanes Centre for Advanced Studies (CEAB).
Although these caves are located far from the sea, they are filled with water. This is divided into two layers. While the lower water is seawater that comes out of the sea through slow filtration, the upper layer comes from rain. Access to such caves is very difficult: there is no natural light, and the heights contain hardly any nutrients and dissolved oxygen in the water. Although these conditions severely limit the survival of organisms, researchers have discovered a previously unknown creature under the sediments of the cave – eighteen meters deep.
A team of researchers discovered two new species of annelid worms (polychaetes) in caves. © María Capa/CEAB-CSIC
Against the background of climate change, research into worms is of great importance
They are animals that belong to the polychaetes, similar to sandworms, which mostly live under sandy beach. This is a sensational find, as the research team, led by Dr. María Capa from the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and the marine research institute Imedea-CSIC, explains in the Zoological Journal.
Capa emphasizes: "The fact that we are currently discovering new life forms confirms that there are places like these caves that are still very unknown." It is important to understand them "in order to value and protect them, especially in the context of climate change, which could jeopardize the survival of these interesting ecosystems."
Discovery in Mallorca: One of the worm species has no eyes and is almost transparent
The morphology of the worm differs from all known species and genera. Because of this, it was even necessary to create a completely new genre for him. The annelid worm is about two centimeters long, has no eyes and is almost transparent. The researchers describe his brain as visible and "pigmented deep red". There are scales on his back, like those of the other members of the group, known as "scaleworms". It also has two pairs of "parrot-shaped" jaws.
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The annelid worm is related to lineages that otherwise live only in the depths of the Pacific Ocean and on the continental shelf of Antarctica. According to the scientists, there may be a very old connection when the continents were completely different, the scientists explain. Another unique feature of the animal is that, although it lives in the sediment, it was able to emerge and swim with sinusoidal movements.
There are places like these caves that are still very unknown. It is important to know them in order to value and protect them, especially in the context of climate change, which could threaten the survival of these interesting ecosystems.
Dr. María Capa, Principal Investigator, University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)
Researchers discover new creatures in Mallorca: The second worm belongs to the "spaghetti worms"
The second discovery concerns a genus that is already known, but it is a species that has never been documented before. The living creature belongs to the group of so-called "spaghetti worms" because it lives in tubes made from surrounding sediments and usually only its many long and thin tentacles are visible, which it uses to feed. It has a length of about five centimeters, a very soft body that can contract and expand strongly. It is yellow-transparent and could be bioluminescent, i.e. glow itself, which will be investigated in future expeditions.
This article, written by the editors, used machine support. The article was carefully reviewed by editor Teresa Toth before publication.