Ah, the wonders of nature — Just when you thought you’ve seen everything, you will be surprised with something bigger, weirder and wilder.
Scientists discovered somewhere in Mindanao, south of the Philippines, a three-foot-long shipworm that inhabits a tubular shell and feeds on gas.
The creature is hideous and captivating at the same time.
According to the study published April 17 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, “K. polythalamia has been variously reported to burrow into mud and/or rotting wood. The specimens that we describe here were found burrowing in black, organic-rich sediment in a marine bay with high input of wood and woody plant debris.”
This discovery is a first of its kind. Although shells have been documented since 1700’s, this is the first time that the worm is actually tracked down, dissected and studied intensively.
What’s even more interesting? The nutrient source for K. polythalamia is neither wood nor food particles. They contain “bacteria that actually feast upon hydrogen sulfide.” The creatures can grow to a length of five feet or more.
The team made a discovery through a “lucky break.”
According to a report by Newsweek, the team was in the Philippines when they came across a local show about the benefits of eating marine worms. After researching, they eventually found the population of the weird creatures in Mindanao.
Fun fact: Shipworms, locally known as “tamilok,” are delicacies in Palawan and Aklan, but that’s an entirely different story.
If you want to geek out about the recent discovery, you may read the study here. You may also watch the video here.
Photos: Screengrab from Pnas.org
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