video: This is an unusual sighting of five Swima bombiviridis worms swimming in formation in Astoria Canyon off Oregon at 2,243 meters depth. According to the scientists, this is possibly a mating swarm. The glistening of the bristles is the result of scattering the bright lights of the remotely operated vehicle used to observe and collect these delicate animals. This video relates to an article that appeared in the Aug. 21, 2009, issue of Science, published by AAAS. The brevium, by Dr. Karen J. Osborn of The Scripps Institution of Oceanography and colleagues, was titled, "Deep-Sea, Swimming Worms with Luminescent 'Bombs.'" view more
Credit: Video file © MBARI