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Mesmerizing footage has captured a weirdbioluminescentworm undulating through the nightfall zone .
Researchers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute distinguish the inscrutable - sea worm off the coast of Chile during a research cruise explore seamounts in the area and posted the video toFacebook . They identify the creature as a segmented gossamer worm ( Tomopteris ) — a maritime dirt ball that drop its entire life sentence in constant move , never touching the seafloor or seeing sunlight .
Tomopterisis one of the few marine animals known to have yellow bioluminescence.
" They spend their whole life swim through the water with run-in of paddle , alike to how an nightwalker uses its segments to ' float ' through the soil,“Steve Haddock , senior scientist and marine life scientist at theMonterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute ( MBARI ) , who researchers the genus but was not involved in the hostile expedition , say Live Science in an email .
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The researchers spotted the glowing worm using a remotely operated vehicle ( ROV ) at a deepness of about 1,818 animal foot ( 554 meters ) , and then a 2nd prison term around 2,225 metrical unit ( 678 m ) below the open , voice from the Schmidt Ocean Institute severalize Live Science .
Tomopterisspecies are typically found in the twilight zone , ormesopelagic zone , at depth between660 foot and 3,300 feet ( 200 MiB to 1,000 m ) . The bristly paddles that segmented gossamer dirt ball apply to drown around are called parapodia . The worm can release a fog of golden - yellow bioluminescent mucus from these paddles . investigator think this fogginess acts as a smokescreen to help the creatures sidestep predator .
The gold hue of the mucous secretion has puzzled scientists , as most nautical bioluminescent organismsemit a puritanic - green light .
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Previously , Haddock and a team of MBARI researchers discovered that aloe - modin — a chemical substance typically found in the gel , sap and leave of plants — isresponsible for create this lighting . However , research worker still do n’t know exactly why or how this happen . It was not exculpated if the louse was responsible for creating the chemical and so one theory hint that they may acquire the chemical through their dieting — which includestunicates , fish larvae and planktonic marine worms call chaetognaths .
" The reason for the yellow colour remain one of the mysteries of spirit in the sea , " Haddock said .
