13 New Marine Worm Species Discovered

An international team, coordinated by the CBMA, has identified 13 previously unknown species of segmented marine worms — essential players in coastal ecosystem health.

The study, published in Invertebrate Systematics, used an integrative taxonomy approach, combining detailed morphological analysis with DNA sequencing, to reveal hidden biodiversity across the North-East Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Azores.

“These species are very similar to one another, and it was only through DNA sequencing that we were able to detect them,” says Filipe Costa, who led the research.

The new species were named after video game characters (Elden Ring, Nier), mythological figures and renowned polychaete taxonomists — a reflection of how science and culture can intersect.

These marine worms, relatives of the ones commonly used as bait, play a vital role in nutrient recycling, sediment stabilisation and supporting marine food chains.

The findings highlight the importance of DNA barcoding — a technique that uses short genetic sequences to accurately identify species — in biodiversity research and conservation.

Read the full article: https://www.publish.csiro.au/IS/IS24059