Zooillogix would like to take a moment to introduce you to Parborlasia corrugatus, a proboscis worm residing in the waters of Antarctica. We should note that we were inspired to learn more about these cute little fellows from this outstanding pic we saw on Ugly Overload.
Photo credit Jeff Miller
P. corrugatus grows up to two meters in length, comes in a variety of delightful colors, and kills its prey by rapidly and repeatedly stabbing it with a harpoon-like barbed proboscis! This proboscis has adhesive secretions which secure it in place. When threatened, this fast moving giant death worm secretes an acidic mucus that predators avoid. Interestingly, I believe I learned about P. corrugatus inadvertently almost three months ago when I defeated him in Level 9 of Ninja Gaiden II for Xbox 360.
Both a hunter and scavenger, worm-monster eats almost anything, including sponges, jellyfish, diatoms, seastars, anemones, polychaete worms, mollusks, crustaceans, fish and divers. The worms frequently engage in feeding frenzies around carcasses, forming what scientists refer to as "a rubber band ball of terror."
Lacking a respiratory system, P. corrugatus absorbs oxygen through its skin. When oxygen levels drop, it flattens and elongates to increase surface area for absorption and minimize the distance oxygen must travel within the body. It's flexible body also allows it to swallow food almost as a large as itself.
more pics below the fold
P. corrugatus joins in on the feeding frenzy when the small seastar Odontaster validus attacks en masse the large seastar Acodontaster conspicuus
Fish egg dinner
Here it is feasting on Benny's brain in one of his nightmares
Ref - -
Brueggeman, Peter, 1998. Underwater Field Guide to Ross Island & McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
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This post is the last straw! I'm bookmarking Zooillogix!
"Giant Death Worm" is a much better popular name than the boring "Giant Antarctic Marine Worm". How do we go about getting that changed?
I prefer 'Giant Deadly Antarctic Marine Death Worm of Death', just in case no one noticed the most important part.
I want to call it "Giant Death Worm: Destroyer of Worlds". Thanks, Zooillogix! Very cool post!
Sven,
I'm bookmarking Zooillogix!
What, you're only just doing this now?!
Oh well. Check out the archives. Do so on an empty stomach. Or, if you're a bit more adventurous, on a date.
The Lasagna of Doom
I think I've seen it several times in all these movies about deep ocean. Nobody talks about them though (and rarely writes). Very interesting, I have to read about the species more. Thanks
Looks like DNC protesters.
Oh, I'm familiar with what goes on here, just always taken an indirect route to get here. I'm very stingy with my bookmarks.
Wow these are really interesting Thanks!
Weeeeirdo water worms...
Vermicious Knids!
This species does not have a "harpoon-like barbed proboscis". It has a glandular proboscis, no stylette.
megan - interesting, we got most of the info from here http://repositories.cdlib.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1270&context=…
you confident they are wrong? if so, let's correct them.
"...forming what scientists refer to as "a rubber band ball of terror.""
What scientists? Us?
Yes Liz. You specifically.
latest picture is beatiful good
I dunno, if they can come up with 'Vampire Squid from Hell' for an individual creature maybe we can get this worm wad renamed 'Satan's Sock-Ball.' Come on guys, let's give it a go! Anybody know Latin?
Thank you for a fantastic site and completely revolting and compulsively facinating pics. My children love them and their Mother does too. How to make science interesting. Does anyone have pics of the fairly newly discovered shrimp - crustacean thingy which lives off New Zealand in very deep ( possibly hot?) waters. There was one in Auckland Museum. It is shudderworthy.Too scary for children ( and some adults)
thanks
btw wat does this worm do to your system???
er... soccus-globus ditis = the slipper-ball of Pluto?
I guess "Vermisglobus Plutonius" works (Hellish Wormball).
As for the actual scientific name, 'corrugatus' means 'wrinkled', but I have no idea about 'parborlasia'. I like V. Plutonius personally.
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