#chaetognaths

Although Chaetognatha sounds like an eldritch horror, it's only scary if you're a plankton! Chaetognaths, or arrow worms, are microscopic predators found throughout the world's oceans. They hunt mainly by ambush, darting forward to hook a number of spines around their prey and swallow it whole. But as scary as they seem to other microscopic prey, arrow worms are themselves an important source of food for larger fish like anchovies, mackerel, and sardines.

5. phyllosoma! these guys are just larval stages of spiny lobsters but ive seen these irl and theyre So flat its fucked. marine larval stages as a whole get a shoutout, its rly interesting how lots of sea creatures body plans change so much that they fill completely different ecological niches throughout their lives

4. chaetognaths :) arrow worms :) [is so small that water is viscous to me and i have to shoot myself like a bow and arrow through the water to catch prey]

3. cliones! got to meet these guys in july and theyre so enchanting. eating you

2. pyrosomes! i heart colonial tunicates

stygiomedusa gigantea my BELOVEDDDDDDDDDDD. seen here with her best friend of all time a cusk eel :)))

Unlocking the Secrets of the Chaetognath Body Plan The remarkable segmented body plan of chaetognaths – often referred to as arrow worms – has captivated biologists for decades. These fascinating marine invertebrates are renowned for their intricate, torpedo-shaped bodies, exhibiting a level of structural complexity rarely seen in other invertebrate groups. Understanding the genetic basis of this…

Arrow worms, or chaetognaths, are strange ocean predators that have puzzled scientists for more than a century. They have transparent, torpedo-shaped bodies, sharp grasping spines near their mouths, and sensory structures unlike those of any other animal group. Despite their distinctive look, their place on the evolutionary tree has long been a mystery. Summary Arrow worms, or chaetognaths, are…