Terrifying Antarctic Worm With Teeth And Golden Bristles Goes Viral
This unusual animal, called Eulagisca gigantea, looks more like something you’d expect from a sci-fi monster film than from the cold waters near Antarctica.
With its shiny, golden bristles and a wide mouth full of teeth, it could easily be mistaken for a creepy holiday decoration that came to life.
Even though it’s causing a stir online now, this strange worm has actually been living unnoticed in the Southern Ocean for a long time. Thanks to a recent viral post, it’s finally getting the spotlight.
Meet the Eulagisca gigantea
So, what exactly makes this deep-sea worm so fascinating? For starters, it can grow up to around 8 inches long — about the size of a banana. What’s even more surprising is that its head is actually a retractable throat. When it’s ready to feed, this throat shoots out, revealing a set of sharp teeth. It’s clear this worm isn’t just drifting through life — it’s a hunter.
That extendable throat helps it catch smaller marine animals, whether by scavenging or active hunting. Its glowing golden bristles aren’t just for looks either. They might help it move through the water, crawl along the ocean floor, or possibly even serve as a defense against predators. Still, there’s a lot we don’t know. Scientists haven’t spent much time studying Eulagisca gigantea, even though it was first discovered back in 1939.
A creature of the deep
Polychaete worms, the group Eulagisca gigantea belongs to, are surprisingly diverse. These worms are found all over the ocean, from shallow tropical reefs to the darkest parts of the deep sea near hydrothermal vents.
There are currently more than 8,000 known species of polychaete worms, but scientists believe there are probably many more out there. A study from 2016 suggested that we might have only discovered about half of all marine worm species so far. That means a lot of strange and amazing creatures could still be hiding in the unexplored depths of our oceans.
They’re also incredibly valuable for researchers trying to understand how life thrives in the extreme environments of the deep sea.
The image showed off the worm’s shiny gold bristles and its scary-looking, extended jaws. Unsurprisingly, the post quickly went viral, sparking both fascination and a bit of fear.
While its alien-like look may give you chills, unusual creatures like Eulagisca gigantea are offering scientists fresh insights into the amazing biodiversity that exists far beneath the surface of the sea.
