Abstract
I FOUND a considerable number of the oligochætous annelids known as 'ice-worms' on August 7, 1949, during the Arctic Institute's "Project Snow Cornice" in the St. Elias Range, Yukon–Alaska Boundary. They were discovered on the Seward firnfield at an altitude of about 6,000 ft., and scattered sparsely over the surface of the névé at midday in conditions of bright sunshine. They were mostly ¾inch or less in length and black in colour' but under the hand-lens appeared brownish-black, when fresh, and before preservation in 'B.C. Fix' (alcohol + acetic acid + formalin). They quickly dried up and died at ordinary air temperature when taken from the snow or melt-water.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Welch, P. S., Trans. Amer. Micro. Soc., 35, 2 (1916).
Russell, I. C., Second Expedition to Mt. St. Elias, 13th Ann. Hep.,U.S. Geol. Sur., 1891–92. Pt. II. Geology (1893).
"The Ascent of Mount St. Elias", Filippi, 1900, Appendix D, by Carlo Emery.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
ODELL, N. Ice-Worms in Yukon and Alaska. Nature 164, 1098 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/1641098a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1641098a0
This article is cited by
-
So-called ‘Glacier-Worms’ in New Zealand
Nature (1956)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.