A NEW SPECIES OF HESIONID WORM, HESIOCAECA-METHANICOLA SP-NOV (POLYCHAETA, HESIONIDAE), LIVING IN ICE-LIKE METHANE HYDRATES IN THE DEEP GULF-OF-MEXICO

On July 14, 1997, in the Gulf of Mexico, a dense population of polycha ete worms dwelling in methane hydrates associated with cold seeps was discovered and sampled at 538 meters depth. The worms belong to the fa mily Hesionidae and represent a new species of the genus Hesiocaeca. T hey differ from the two previously described species by the shape of t he prostomium, the shape of the setae and the presence of anal cirri.