This
web site contains information about chaetognath biology including keys, images,
species lists and links to other on-line references. The phylum Chaetognatha
contains about 150 species of marine worms called "Arrow Worms". Most
chaetognaths are planktonic, but some species attach to algae or other substrate.
They are found in marine ecosystems all over the planet, including the open
ocean, tide pools, polar waters, marine caves, coastal lagoons, and the deep
sea. Often, they can be the second most dominant group of zooplankton. They
have been found to be the most abundant type of animal present in some deep-sea
environments. They are predators on copepods and other small crustaceans, larval
fish and other chaetognaths. They are food for fishes, squids and some sea birds.
Have
you seen the description of a new fossil chaetognath published in Science
4 October 2002?
