- Hesiocaeca methanicola
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Hesiocaeca methanicola 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Annelida Class: Polychaeta Order: Phyllodocida Family: Hesionida Genus: Hesiocaeca Species: H. methanicola Binomial name Hesiocaeca methanicola
Desbruyères & Toulmond, 1998Methane clathrate deposits in the ocean floor have been found to be inhabited by polychaete worms of the species Hesiocaeca methanicola. The worms colonize the methane ice and appear to survive by gleaning bacteria which in turn metabolize the clathrate.
In 1997, Charles Fisher, professor of biology at Penn State, discovered this remarkable creature living on mounds of methane ice at a depth of half a mile (~800 m) on the ocean floor in the Gulf of Mexico.[1] Fisher reported that experiments with live specimens showed that the mature creatures could survive in an anoxic environment for up to 96 hours. Fisher reported that experiments showed that the larvae were dispersed by currents, and died after 20 days if they did not find a place to feed.
References
- ^ C. R. Fisher, I.'R. MacDonald, R. Sassen, C. M. Young, S. A. Macko, S. Hourdez, R. S. Carney, S. Joye & E. McMullin (=2000). "Methane ice worms: Hesiocaeca methanicola colonizing fossil fuel reserves". Naturwissenschaften 87 (4): 184–187. doi:10.1007/s001140050700. PMID 10840806. http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/Ecophy/PDF/00-Fisher-NatWis.pdf.
External links
- Dane Konop (July 29, 1997). "Scientists discover methane ice worms on Gulf of Mexico sea floor". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/pr97/jul97/noaa97-44.html.
- David Pacchioli (May 4, 2001). "Redefining "Life as We Know it"". SpaceRef.com. http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=339.
Categories:- Polychaetes
- Animals described in 1998
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