Invertebrate
Parasagitta setosa
Parasagitta setosaAlso known as Arrow Worm, Bristle-jaw Worm
Coastal arrow worms are nearly transparent marine predators that drift in neritic surface waters, ambushing smaller zooplankton with explosive lunges. Guided by sensitive vibrating cilia along their bodies, they detect water disturbances before grasping victims with a curved crown of chitinous head hooks. They undergo diel vertical migrations, descending during bright daylight to avoid surface-feeding fish and rising toward rich plankton layers after dusk.
PlanktonicTransparentPredatory
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCalanoid Copepods, Fish Larvae, Appendicularians
Predators
- Atlantic Herring
- European Sprat
- Moon Jellyfish
ThreatsOcean warming, coastal eutrophication, and marine pollution
HabitatsTemperate neritic waters, shallow coastal shelf seas, and marine inlets
Life span3 to 12 months
Classification
- FamilySagittidae
- SpeciesParasagitta setosa
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Viewing: Collect in a clear plankton tow jar to observe its glassy body.
- Microscopy: Use darkfield illumination to highlight chitinous jaw hooks.
Predator (c) Simon Rolph, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Simon Rolph · cc-by
Prey (c) Leïla Brunner, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Leïla Brunner · cc-by
Close Relative MarinFaunistik / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
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