Midwater worms >> terrestrial worms. 😍 #tomopteris 🦑🧪🌊 #DesigningtheFuture3 @mbarinews.bsky.social @schmidtocean.bsky.social
April 19, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Midwater worms >> terrestrial worms. 😍 #tomopteris 🦑🧪🌊 #DesigningtheFuture3 @mbarinews.bsky.social @schmidtocean.bsky.social
July 12, 2026 at 12:29 PM
A fun case of usual-unusual: Most luminescence in the sea is blue-green, but Tomopteris worms emit yellow light.
With Warren Francis, we found a species that emits blue light — unusual but usual. 🦑🧪
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-016-3028-2
doi.org/10.1002/bio.2671
With Warren Francis, we found a species that emits blue light — unusual but usual. 🦑🧪
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-016-3028-2
doi.org/10.1002/bio.2671
March 11, 2025 at 6:13 AM
A fun case of usual-unusual: Most luminescence in the sea is blue-green, but Tomopteris worms emit yellow light.
With Warren Francis, we found a species that emits blue light — unusual but usual. 🦑🧪
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-016-3028-2
doi.org/10.1002/bio.2671
With Warren Francis, we found a species that emits blue light — unusual but usual. 🦑🧪
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00227-016-3028-2
doi.org/10.1002/bio.2671
Worm Vs. Ctenophore!
A predatory Tomopteris worm has stalked and captured a Ctenophore (aka “comb jelly”).
.
.
#ctenophore #combjelly #plankton #blackwater #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug
A predatory Tomopteris worm has stalked and captured a Ctenophore (aka “comb jelly”).
.
.
#ctenophore #combjelly #plankton #blackwater #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug
March 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Worm Vs. Ctenophore!
A predatory Tomopteris worm has stalked and captured a Ctenophore (aka “comb jelly”).
.
.
#ctenophore #combjelly #plankton #blackwater #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug
A predatory Tomopteris worm has stalked and captured a Ctenophore (aka “comb jelly”).
.
.
#ctenophore #combjelly #plankton #blackwater #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug
January 28, 2026 at 8:04 AM
January 26, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Tomopteris, my beloved!!
Almost forgot to share this week's 5 minute daily drawings! The theme this week was gossamer marine worms.
#SciArt #TradArt #Invertebrates
#SciArt #TradArt #Invertebrates
December 2, 2024 at 4:42 AM
Tomopteris, my beloved!!
TOMOPTERIS! #wormwednesday
Excited to share that my gossamer worm photo won the Best Image Award at the 5th Marine Imaging Workshop in Monterey!
Many thanks to the wonderful folks at MBARI on the local organizing committee, the wider MIW community, and Boxfish Robotics for sponsoring the competition.
🧪🐙🦑🐡
Many thanks to the wonderful folks at MBARI on the local organizing committee, the wider MIW community, and Boxfish Robotics for sponsoring the competition.
🧪🐙🦑🐡
November 13, 2024 at 5:09 PM
TOMOPTERIS! #wormwednesday
July 21, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Beautiful Tomopteris video, pilots 👏
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 908 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 908 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
April 21, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Beautiful Tomopteris video, pilots 👏
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 908 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 908 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
😲 This glassy planktonic worm—a marine polychaete of the genus Tomopteris, meaning "cut wings"—lives in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.
When threatened, Tomopteris release clouds of yellow sparks, an unusual color in the sea, where bioluminescence is normally blue.
📸 Larry Madin © #WHOI
When threatened, Tomopteris release clouds of yellow sparks, an unusual color in the sea, where bioluminescence is normally blue.
📸 Larry Madin © #WHOI
June 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
😲 This glassy planktonic worm—a marine polychaete of the genus Tomopteris, meaning "cut wings"—lives in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica.
When threatened, Tomopteris release clouds of yellow sparks, an unusual color in the sea, where bioluminescence is normally blue.
📸 Larry Madin © #WHOI
When threatened, Tomopteris release clouds of yellow sparks, an unusual color in the sea, where bioluminescence is normally blue.
📸 Larry Madin © #WHOI
April 26, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Not your average worm 🔥
Gossamer worms call the expansive waters of the ocean’s twilight zone home. Living up in the water column, thousands of feet above the seafloor, has made Tomopteris effective swimmers. They swish their bodies side to side while rowing paddle-like parapodia.
Gossamer worms call the expansive waters of the ocean’s twilight zone home. Living up in the water column, thousands of feet above the seafloor, has made Tomopteris effective swimmers. They swish their bodies side to side while rowing paddle-like parapodia.
September 14, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Not your average worm 🔥
Gossamer worms call the expansive waters of the ocean’s twilight zone home. Living up in the water column, thousands of feet above the seafloor, has made Tomopteris effective swimmers. They swish their bodies side to side while rowing paddle-like parapodia.
Gossamer worms call the expansive waters of the ocean’s twilight zone home. Living up in the water column, thousands of feet above the seafloor, has made Tomopteris effective swimmers. They swish their bodies side to side while rowing paddle-like parapodia.
The deep sea doesn’t do "normal." Case in point: the harlequin worm (Tomopteris). It’s a transparent, swimming polychaete that shoots out bioluminescent glowing particles when disturbed—basically deep-sea glitter bombs. Evolution, you’re wild. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbzd... #marinelife #deepsea
Tomopteris are gelatinous worms that swim in the deep ocean
YouTube video by MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute)
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The deep sea doesn’t do "normal." Case in point: the harlequin worm (Tomopteris). It’s a transparent, swimming polychaete that shoots out bioluminescent glowing particles when disturbed—basically deep-sea glitter bombs. Evolution, you’re wild. www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbzd... #marinelife #deepsea
Amazing zooms on this Tomopteris! Way to go pilots 👏
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 919 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 919 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
April 27, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Amazing zooms on this Tomopteris! Way to go pilots 👏
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 919 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 919 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
In the deep sea, we know all about romance. ❤️
Female gossamer worms (Tomopteris spp.) produce a pheromone that attracts males and signals them to shed sperm into the water. This, in turn, signals the female to release her eggs—a behavior called swarming.
Female gossamer worms (Tomopteris spp.) produce a pheromone that attracts males and signals them to shed sperm into the water. This, in turn, signals the female to release her eggs—a behavior called swarming.
April 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
In the deep sea, we know all about romance. ❤️
Female gossamer worms (Tomopteris spp.) produce a pheromone that attracts males and signals them to shed sperm into the water. This, in turn, signals the female to release her eggs—a behavior called swarming.
Female gossamer worms (Tomopteris spp.) produce a pheromone that attracts males and signals them to shed sperm into the water. This, in turn, signals the female to release her eggs—a behavior called swarming.
Long & Not Limbless!
Look at this absolute babe 😍
Tomopteris, the gossamer worm that lives completely in the water column (holoplanktic).
Watch some videos of Tomopteris, you won't regret it!
📸1Nature Rules,2Blue Planet,3Earth at Night in Color
#InsertAnInvert2024
Look at this absolute babe 😍
Tomopteris, the gossamer worm that lives completely in the water column (holoplanktic).
Watch some videos of Tomopteris, you won't regret it!
📸1Nature Rules,2Blue Planet,3Earth at Night in Color
#InsertAnInvert2024
April 9, 2024 at 12:46 AM
Long & Not Limbless!
Look at this absolute babe 😍
Tomopteris, the gossamer worm that lives completely in the water column (holoplanktic).
Watch some videos of Tomopteris, you won't regret it!
📸1Nature Rules,2Blue Planet,3Earth at Night in Color
#InsertAnInvert2024
Look at this absolute babe 😍
Tomopteris, the gossamer worm that lives completely in the water column (holoplanktic).
Watch some videos of Tomopteris, you won't regret it!
📸1Nature Rules,2Blue Planet,3Earth at Night in Color
#InsertAnInvert2024
oooo! MORE glam polychaete photos! TOMOPTERIS #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Tomopteris helgolandica
Tomopteris helgolandica from St. Margarets Bay, Chester, NS, CA on March 19, 2025 at 08:06 PM by Matt Mar
www.inaturalist.org
April 2, 2025 at 4:06 PM
oooo! MORE glam polychaete photos! TOMOPTERIS #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒔 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒎)
July 19, 2026 at 4:18 PM
𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒔 (𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒎)
DAAANG! Some artsy "Gossamer Worms" Tomopteris on @inaturalist.bsky.social #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Tomopteris carpenteri
Tomopteris carpenteri on February 15, 2025 at 12:55 PM by Gonzalo Giribet. Tomopteris carpenteri
www.inaturalist.org
February 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
DAAANG! Some artsy "Gossamer Worms" Tomopteris on @inaturalist.bsky.social #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
OH NICE! Tomopteris occurs in Antarctica! I did not know this! #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Gossamer Worms (Genus Tomopteris)
Gossamer Worms from Useful Island, AQ on November 24, 2007 at 02:28 PM by davidcothran
www.inaturalist.org
May 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
OH NICE! Tomopteris occurs in Antarctica! I did not know this! #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
OH! here's a chonky Tomopteris! #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Gossamer Worms (Genus Tomopteris)
Gossamer Worms from Antarctica on November 9, 2025 at 06:31 PM by Holly Stainton
www.inaturalist.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:26 PM
OH! here's a chonky Tomopteris! #wormwednesday www.inaturalist.org/observations...
Wonderful zooms on a large Tomopteris! A little less than a meter probably.
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 903 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 903 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
April 19, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Wonderful zooms on a large Tomopteris! A little less than a meter probably.
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 903 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
@schmidtocean.bsky.social dive 903 #DesigningtheFuture3 #MarineLife
oooo! TOMOPTERIS videos by VIMS-Virginia Institute of Marine Science! aka Gossamer worms #wormwednesday youtu.be/lS7EC-s9eQc?...
Tomopteris
YouTube video by VA Institute of Marine Science
youtu.be
July 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
oooo! TOMOPTERIS videos by VIMS-Virginia Institute of Marine Science! aka Gossamer worms #wormwednesday youtu.be/lS7EC-s9eQc?...
This is a 'gossamer worm' (genus Tomopteris) & unlike their benthic polychaete cousins they live their whole lives floating free in ocean currents (holoplanktonic).
They're bioluminescent, with a fluid-filled central coelom & a thin layer of muscle driving their parapodia (paddles?)
They're bioluminescent, with a fluid-filled central coelom & a thin layer of muscle driving their parapodia (paddles?)
Midwater worms >> terrestrial worms. 😍 #tomopteris 🦑🧪🌊 #DesigningtheFuture3 @mbarinews.bsky.social @schmidtocean.bsky.social
April 19, 2026 at 1:59 PM
This is a 'gossamer worm' (genus Tomopteris) & unlike their benthic polychaete cousins they live their whole lives floating free in ocean currents (holoplanktonic).
They're bioluminescent, with a fluid-filled central coelom & a thin layer of muscle driving their parapodia (paddles?)
They're bioluminescent, with a fluid-filled central coelom & a thin layer of muscle driving their parapodia (paddles?)