The Flamboyant Squid Worm is a newly described of deep sea annelid which was recently discovered in the ocean depths near the Philippines. The new squid-worm was recently described as Teuthidodrilus samae and it is unlike anything yet seen before. Teuthidodrilus lives in open water using it’s modified spines as oars to swim through the water and it’s squid-like tentacles to both breathe and capture prey. At four inches long, it is easy to clearly see one of the flamboyant squid worms and it’s ostentatious design with the naked eye and it would be amazing to see some of these creatures on display at a public aquarium. The flamboyant squid worm is seemingly abundant but for now it’s habitat of open water a mile under the surface is somewhat off limits for the average marine ornamental collector.
[via National Geographic]