Bioluminescence of the polychaete Tharyx sp. (Annelida: Cirratulidae) in deep-seawater from Toyama Bay, Japan

Abstract

Commercially pumped deep-seawater is an easily accessible source of deep-sea animals. In this study, we report the bioluminescence of a cirratulid polychaete, Tharyx sp., obtained from pipeline seawater pumped up from a depth of 384 m in Toyama Bay. Two living worms collected from the nylon mesh attached to the pump outlet produced greenish light when disturbed. They were identified as Tharyx sp. (Cirratulidae) by morphological examination and DNA sequencing. Bioluminescence of cirratulid worms is not widely reported and, to our knowledge, this is the first report of bioluminescence in the genus Tharyx.