Off The Record
The Antarctic Worm With Teeth That Will Haunt Your Dreams
You’ll see why a peculiar and captivating sea worm has just gone viral on the internet.
Eulagisca gigantea is a peculiar creature that seems more appropriate in a science fiction horror movie than in the icy waters of Antarctica.
With its glistening golden bristles and wide, tooth-lined mouth, it could easily be mistaken for a festive ornament gone horribly wrong.
Unbelievably, though, this strange worm has been residing in the Southern Ocean for years; social media is only now drawing attention to it.
Meet the Eulagisca gigantea
What, then, is so unique about this worm? First of all, it has a head that doubles as a retractable neck and is roughly 8 inches long, or about the size of a banana.
This neck opens out to display sharp fangs when it’s time to eat, demonstrating that this worm is a predator and not just a gorgeous creature. This extended portion is used by the worm to seek or scavenge smaller aquatic life.
Nor are its golden bristles merely ornamental. They may serve as a defense mechanism, aid in swimming, or allow it to creep down the seafloor. Since its discovery in 1939, scientists have only conducted a limited amount of research on Eulagisca gigantea, therefore there is still a great deal we don’t know.
A creature of the deep
Eulagisca gigantea and other polychaete worms are extremely diverse and found in a wide variety of aquatic settings. These worms can be found in a wide variety of sizes, forms, and colors, from shallow coral reefs to deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
There are actually more than 8,000 kinds of polychaete worms, but experts think there may be even more out there just waiting to be found.
Who knows what other strange and amazing animals might be lying in the deep? According to a 2016 study, scientists may have only discovered half of the marine worm species that exist.
Despite their odd appearance, these worms are vital to ocean ecosystems and to scientists who study life at the planet’s depths.
Viral sensation
A specimen of Eulagisca gigantea collected from the Antarctic Ocean was featured in a Facebook post that recently went viral. The worm’s terrifying, protruding jaws and metallic golden hairs were captured in the picture. It’s no surprise that viewers were intrigued and little alarmed by the post.
Despite their unearthly look, animals like Eulagisca gigantea are assisting scientists in their understanding of the deep sea’s intriguing and enigmatic biodiversity.
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