arrow worms
Sign in to saveThe Chaetognatha or chaetognaths (meaning bristle-jaws) are a phylum of predatory marine worms that are a major component of plankton worldwide. Commonly known as arrow worms, they are mostly pelagic; however about 20% of the known species are benthic, and can attach to algae and rocks. They are found in all marine waters, from surface tropical waters and shallow tide pools to the deep sea and polar regions. Most chaetognaths are transparent and are torpedo shaped, but some deep-sea species are orange. They range in size from .
AI overview
Arrow worms are small, predatory marine worms that are a major part of plankton in all ocean environments, ranging from tropical surface waters to the deep sea. They are mostly transparent and torpedo-shaped, making them well-adapted hunters in the ocean food web.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
18 sectionsContents
- Anatomy
- Head and digestive system
- Nervous and sensory systems
- Internal organs
- Locomotion
- Reproduction and life cycle
- Behaviour
- Ecology
- Genetics
- Mitochondrial genome
- Phylogeny and evolution
- Evolution and relationship to other animals
- Fossil record
- Internal phylogeny
- History
- Infection by giant viruses
- References
- External links
The Chaetognatha or chaetognaths (meaning bristle-jaws) are a phylum of predatory marine worms that are a major component of plankton worldwide. Commonly known as arrow worms, they are mostly pelagic; however about 20% of the known species are benthic, and can attach to algae and rocks. They are found in all marine waters, from surface tropical waters and shallow tide pools to the deep sea and polar regions. Most chaetognaths are transparent and are torpedo shaped, but some deep-sea species are orange. They range in size from .
Chaetognaths were first recorded by the Dutch naturalist Martinus Slabber in 1775. As of 2021, biologists recognize 133 modern species assigned to over 26 genera and eight families. Despite the limited diversity of species, the number of individuals is large.