Defence Mechanism of Swima bombiviridis

Bioluminescence in Action
Reviewed by: Nur Fitrahtul Adilah binti Mohd Firdaus Nelson (145418)

INTRODUCTION DEFENCE MECHANISM ANATOMY

ur e2
F i g
"Bio" means life, and "luminescence" is referred to as Just beneath its head, a bomber worm In Figure 1,
light. "Bioluminescence" together is a type of emission of possesses four pairs or eight modified gill a (circle) : Attached bomb
natural light from living organisms (Ramesh & called bioluminescent fluid sacs (Nava & c b (circle) : Autotomised green
lp
Mohanraju, 2015). This phenomenon is commonly found Fulton-Bennett, 2021). When there is ob bioluminescence bomb
in marine organisms such as algae, jellyfish, and worms. physical contact in any region of the In Figure 2
Bioluminescence has several uses, one of them being a body, the green bomber worm will ob : Parapodial lobes
defence mechanism. An organism discovered in 2009 by detach the tiny bomb-like sacs and c : Numerous long chatae
Karen Osborn that uses bioluminescence as its escape these sacs will burst with a green g (arrows) : Gonopores
plan is Swima bombiviridis or the Green Bomber Worm glow. The autotomised bomb is very lp : Lollipop-shaped papillae
(Osborn et al., 2009). Fig sensitive such that its light can be db : Digitiform branchiae
ur : Subulate branchia
e reactivated from it just by gently sb
squeezing them with forceps (Osborn n : Nephridiopore
TAXONOMY
1

et al., 2009). So when it is disturbed by 1-4 (arrows) : Scars left from

Kingdom : Animalia b predators, the bomb is released and autotomised "bombs"
a shine intensely for a few seconds. These labeled from anterior to
Phylum : Annelida
Class : Polychaeta bombs act as a decoy and will divert the posterior
Order : Terebellida predator's attention. While they are distracted by The posterior half is smoothly tapered with a thick
Family : Acrocirridae the light show, the bomber worm will make a gelatinous sheath and the total body length, when alive
Genus : Swima hasty escape from the predator. Using their is over 15mm (Osborn et al., 2009).
Species : Swima bristles as paddles, they swim backwards away
from the enemy. Finally, the bomber worm will
bombiviridis CONCLUSION
generate a new sac to replace any autotomised
CHEMISTRY OF bomb for upcoming threats. The finding of an active species from annelids with
unique adaptation in protecting themselves from
BIOLUMINESCENCE danger highlights the diversity in deep-sea pelagic and
demersal communities. Bioluminescence, not only used
Three components found in every luminous organism
as a counter-illumination as found in some cephalopods
are luciferin, a light-emitting molecule, oxygen, and an
or for communication in fireflies; it also can serve as a
enzyme called luciferase, which combines luciferin
defence mechanism to the little creature deep in the
with oxygen. Some organisms can synthesise this
ocean. Although it is just a simple mechanism, it is still
chemical on their own, while others must take it in
an effective defence tool for the green bomber worm.
from their surroundings. Additionally, hydrogen
Like any other mechanism, bioluminescence is at the
peroxide and an activator are also involved in the
same level type of defensive operation, which keeping
system (Verdes & Gruber, 2017).
the survival rate of the green bomber worms.

Dunn, C. (2009). Green Bomber (Swima bombiviridis) [Photograph]. EOL: Encyclopedia of Life. https://eol.org/media/12282127
Khan, R. (2018). Green Bomber Worm [Photograph]. INaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/31112424?size=medium
Nava, R., & Fulton-Bennett, K. (2021). Bomber worm. MBARI: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. https://www.mbari.org/products/creature-feature/bomber-worm/
REFERENCES Osborn, K. J., Haddock, S. H. D., Pleijel, F., Madin, L. P., & Rouse, G. W. (2009). Deep-Sea, Swimming Worms with Luminescent “Bombs.” Science, 325(5943), 964. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172488
Ramesh, C., & Mohanraju, R. (2015). A Review on Bioluminescence and its Applications. International Journal of Luminescence and Applications, 5(1), 45–46.
Verdes, A., & Gruber, D. F. (2017). Glowing Worms: Biological, Chemical, and Functional Diversity of Bioluminescent Annelids. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 57(1), 18–32. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icx017