Nature Quest: Cleaners of the Bay

A rare feather duster worm was spotted around 12 feet deep in the Bay of Bengal near Saint Martin’s Island. These filter-feeding marine worms, with fossils dating back to the Jurassic period, play a vital role by consuming plankton and detritus, helping maintain marine ecosystem health. However, their habitats like mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs face threats from human activities and pollution, endangering the survival of these ancient creatures. Photo: Sharif Sarwar