Scientists Stunned To Discover Marine Worm 'Lost' For 68 Years Hiding Amid Sea Horses This Whole Time
Scientists were shocked to discover that the marine worm they had been searching for a long time, was always right before them. The worm in question is Haplosyllis anthogorgicola, which experts considered 'lost' for around six decades before the startling revelation, IFL Science reported.
It was found that these worms were never 'lost' in reality and had been captured by citizen scientists in hundreds of sea horse photos taken over the years. It's just that they missed the researchers' attention. The shocking development was detailed in the journal, Proceedings Of The Royal Society B.
(Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by wildestanimal)
Before the findings, Haplosyllis anthogorgicola, had last been recorded in the 20th century. This was because the habitat of choice for these beings has been known to be 15 to 40 meters (49 to 131 feet) below the sea surface, where conditions are not ideal for analysis.
Haplosyllis anthogorgicola and pygmy seahorses reportedly have an affinity for gorgonian corals, IFL Science reported. Hence citizen scientists unknowingly captured both of them multiple times around those corals across the central Indo-Pacific. The worms mostly placed themselves in the burrows of the corals, making it easy for experts to surpass them.
Researchers associated with the study discovered the common 'coral' factor between the beings, which gave them the idea to look through the extensive collection of photos featuring pygmy seahorses.
To their shock, three out of every four pictures featuring pygmy seahorses on sites like iNaturalist had Haplosyllis anthogorgicola hiding in plain sight, IFL Science reported.
"Upon examining those photographs, worms and their burrows were visible in the background, revealing that, despite being unrecorded since its description in 1956, the worm is actually widespread," the study authors explained. "Hence, the charismatic seahorse secretly carried information on the lifestyle of this overlooked and unique worm."
Citizen scientists have been capturing the unlikely duo on camera since 2012, according to photographs published on the iNaturalist, IFL Science reported. Researchers have examined these photos with a new perspective, and many of them believe that the two beings could be involved in some kind of competition, in regards to food. Further analysis is being conducted to gain more understanding regarding the species.