The Antarctic Scale Worm (Eulagisca gigantea) is found in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. It lives at depths of 500+ meters and grows over 20 cm long. This bizarre marine worm is carnivorous. Its head resembles a Xenomorph. Its body looks like rows of human teeth. Scale worms belong to the Polynoidae family of marine worms.
The Antarctic Scale Worm thrives in frigid waters around Antarctica. It has adaptations enabling it to survive sub-zero temperatures, strong currents, and limited food. This relatively large species measures up to 30 cm long. It has bristles for movement and protection.
With a retractable throat and razor teeth, it ensnares prey. Its scales provide armor against predators. It conceals itself in sediment and ambushes sea spiders. It uses strong jaws to feed on dead animals. The Antarctic Scale Worm plays a vital role in its ecosystem.
What do scale worms do?
Antarctic scale worms are carnivorous. They feed on deep-sea creatures such as crustaceans, mollusks, and worms. They have a strong bite and can consume animals larger than themselves. Scale worms are marine annelids. They can be found from tide pools to deep sea vents. The part that looks like a head is a retractable tubular sucking mouthpart. Most polychaetes metamorphosize to a sexually mature stage. Scale worms range from 0.5 to 25 cm. The superfamily includes sea mouse and Aphrodita. Their arched back has flattened overlapping scales. Researchers found worms that eat decaying whales in the Southern Ocean. The green bomber worm releases glowing fluid filled sacs. The Antarctic scale worm lives deep on the ocean floor. It conceals itself and attacks sea spiders. It has a proboscis for feeding. Scale worms are small marine annelids found from tide pools to vents. They are carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates. The scientist found the scale worm 1000 meters deep near hot springs and volcanoes. It filters plankton for food with its flipped mouth. The flipped mouth is disgusting. It is 1cm long, flat and broad with hairy bristles and overlapping scales. It has a developed head with tentacles. It creeps by undulating its bristles.
How big does the scale worm get?
Eulagisca gigantea grows up to 20 centimeters long. Scale worms have many body segments with scales called elytra. Scale worms are found in oceans worldwide.
The Antarctic scale worm is red, grows to 30 centimeters, and eats small animals.
Scale worms range from 2-10 inches long. Their overlapping back scales resemble fish scales. Scale worms live in fresh and salt water. Some scale worms reach over a meter long.
Eulagisca gigantea lives around Antarctica 40-700 meters deep. Scale worms lack eyes. Their antennae sense surroundings.
Scale worms range 0.5-25 cm long with flattened scale-like hairs. Scale worms are found globally. The sea mouse is a type of scale worm.
Eulagisca gigantea, reaching 20 cm long and 10 cm wide, lives around Antarctica 40-700 meters deep.
What are the bristle worms in Antarctica?
Bristle worms live in all oceans. Ophryotrocha worms are small, around 2-5mm. They have a rounded head with eyes and antennae. Their bodies have well-defined segments with leg-like appendages.
Antarctic scale worms are cousins to scale worms in other oceans. They live in frigid Southern Ocean waters near Antarctica, 520 to 670 meters deep. Their surprising appearance and size lead many to call them alien-like or nightmarish. They conceal themselves under sediment and attack sea spiders and other marine life. They have a proboscis extending from the head for feeding.
This odd, 8-inch marine worm, Eulagisca gigantea, swims in Antarctic waters. It has bristles everywhere. It belongs to the polychaete class of worms, also called bristle worms. The golden bristles could be used for swimming, moving along the seafloor or defense. It has a disturbing, toothy ornament that appears to be its head.
Eulagisca gigantea is a bristle worm found in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Its stand-out characteristics are a golden-bristled abdomen and a toothy grin on its head. These worms are called polychaetes, meaning “many small hairs” in Latin. They come in various shapes, sizes and colors. Most live on or in the ocean floor. Eulagisca gigantea may use its bristles for moving along the ocean floor or defense.
This 8-inch marine worm looks like a luxury nightmare. In the Southern Ocean near Antarctica lives Eulagisca gigantea. Its stand-out characteristics are golden bristles and a disturbing toothy grin on its head. Its weird looks suggest it could be important to ecosystems. The Latin name polychaetes translates to “many small hairs”. And those hairs glitter.