A never-before-seen creature, a microscopic worm named Diplolaimelloides woaabi, has been discovered in the Great Salt Lake, marking a significant scientific breakthrough. This new species is only the third known animal group capable of surviving the lake’s extreme salinity, alongside brine shrimp and brine flies. The discovery by researchers from the University of Utah, as reported by ScienceDaily on January 10, 2026, offers crucial insights into the lake’s past and its rapidly changing ecological future.
The naming of Diplolaimelloides woaabi carries profound cultural significance. The research team, led by University of Utah biology professor Michael Werner, collaborated with the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation. Tribal elders suggested “Wo’aabi,” an Indigenous word meaning “worm,” honoring the ancestral lands encompassing the lake. This endemic Great Salt Lake creature appears to exist exclusively in this unique environment, raising immediate questions about its origins and ecological role.
Nematodes are among the most abundant and widespread animals on Earth, inhabiting nearly every conceivable environment from polar ice to deep-sea vents. Despite their minute size, often less than a millimeter, these roundworms represent a vast phylum, with over 250,000 identified species. Their ubiquity in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems underscores the potential importance of this specific nematode discovery in the Great Salt Lake.
Unraveling the mystery of a unique ecosystem
Until recently, definitive documentation of nematodes within the Great Salt Lake remained elusive. This changed in 2022 when field expeditions led by Julie Jung, then a postdoctoral researcher in Werner’s lab, uncovered nematodes living within the lake’s microbialites—hardened, mound-like structures formed by microbial communities on the lakebed. Jung’s initial findings were reported in a scientific paper last year, but it took three years of dedicated work to taxonomically confirm the suspicion of a new species.
The confirmation of Diplolaimelloides woaabi elevates nematodes to an elite group, becoming only the third animal type known to thrive in the Great Salt Lake’s extraordinarily saline waters. The other two, brine shrimp and brine flies, are vital food sources for millions of migratory birds. Further genetic evidence suggests the lake may host a second, as-yet-unknown nematode species, a possibility actively being investigated by researchers like undergraduate Thomas Murray, who samples different regions of the lake to explore this biodiversity.
Origins and implications for lake health
The discovery of this new Great Salt Lake creature presents two compelling scientific puzzles: how did these worms arrive, and what specific role do they play in the lake’s ecosystem? The team suspected the nematodes belonged to the Monhysteridae family, an ancient group known for tolerating extreme conditions. Genetic and physical analyses confirmed its placement in the genus Diplolaimelloides, a group typically found in coastal marine and brackish waters, intensifying the mystery.
The Great Salt Lake sits approximately 4,200 feet above sea level and is roughly 800 miles from the nearest ocean. This geographical isolation makes the presence of a genus typically associated with coastal environments particularly baffling. Theories range from ancient oceanic connections to avian transport across continents. Understanding the worm’s origins and its place in the food web could provide critical insights into the lake’s ecological resilience and health, especially as the lake faces unprecedented environmental pressures.
The identification of Diplolaimelloides woaabi is more than just the naming of a new species; it represents a new lens through which to observe and understand one of North America’s most unique and threatened ecosystems. As the Great Salt Lake continues to experience rapid changes, from shrinking water levels to increasing salinity, this tiny worm may hold vital clues to its past adaptations and future survival, guiding conservation efforts and deepening our appreciation for life in extreme environments.
