This deep-sea worm was spotted at the bottom of the ocean! The Polychaete species name means many bristles. Each body segment has a pair of fleshy protrusions called parapodia covered in bristles called chaetae. Some worms are bioluminescent, but this sassy sparkler has protein structures in the bristles that make them iridescent. Polychaetes play a vital role throughout our global Ocean, from heat-tolerant extremophiles at hydrothermal vents to the bone-eating Osedax worms that cycle nutrients. 🎥 schmidtocean #polychaete #worm #deepsea #nature #seacreature #underthesea