Wednesday 29 September 2021

Swimming mechanics of the gossamer worm revealed

Many animals in the midwater—the vast expanse of water between the surface and the deep seafloor—are always on the move. Unlike its bottom-dwelling kin, the gossamer worm (Tomopteris sp.) lives in constant motion. This ethereal worm is a graceful swimmer that "dances" through the midwater with the rhythmic paddling of its swimming legs.