Deep-Sea Creepy-Crawlies: Images of Acorn Worms

A newly discovered species of acorn worm found in the Celebes Sea of the western Pacific. These fragile worms live on the sea floor.
A new species of acorn worm looks a bit like a rose on the sea floor. The tubular shapes in the right of the photo are castings, or sand and sediment excreted after the worm filters through it for nutrients.
Another species of acorn worm rests among its castings.
A nearly-transparent acorn worm in the Gulf of California.
A sea spider steps over an acorn worm in this image taken by an remotely operated vehicle.
A new species of acorn worm moves amid brittle stars.
In a new discovery, researchers observed worms drifting as much as 66 feet (20 meters) above the seafloor. It seems that the worms are capable of floating from feeding zone to feeding zone.
An acorn worm (top left) shares the sea floor with a spiky sea cucumber (center). This photo was taken on the Davidson Seamount at 9,596 feet (2925 meters).
An acorn worm on the Davidson Seamount at 10,784 feet (3287 meters).
An acorn worm photographed in the Endeavor Rift Valley.
