Three New Deep-Sea Bloodworm Species Discovered in Papua New Guinea Waters

Researchers from the Australian Museum and French institutions have identified three previously unknown species of bloodworms in deep-sea environments off Papua New Guinea. Dr. Pat Hutchings and Dr. Nicolas Lavesque made the discovery while examining samples collected at depths between 273 and 1,200 meters during research expeditions. These worms, belonging to the genus Marphysa, were found inhabiting sunken vegetation like banana leaves and wood debris, marking the first recorded instance of this genus at such depths. The findings, published in the journal Zookeys, suggest these species evolved in isolated deep-sea micro-environments created by storm-washed terrestrial material. This discovery expands scientific understanding of marine biodiversity and highlights the need for further exploration of offshore habitats.