World’s Freakiest Worm

vr_don · 11-11-2009, 10:06 AM

World’s Freakiest Worm Gets Expanded Family Tree

Five years after discovering some of the strangest creatures in the world — mouthless worms that live in the bones of dead whales — scientists have taken a peek into their genes. Though not complete, the glimpse shows these creatures to be far more complicated than was known.

The worms, found in a gray whale skeleton off the coast of California, prompted scientists to designate them as representatives of an entirely new genus, dubbed Osedax. They belonged to a taxonomic family of marine worms that lack mouths and anuses, and rely entirely on bacteria to absorb and excrete nutrients. But Osedax was unique: Adult males were extremely small, and lived in colonies inside the females. Even more strikingly, they occupied an evolutionary niche comprised entirely of fallen whales.

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raves475 · 11-11-2009, 03:54 PM

This is a great example of how diverse life on earth is. Just image how different lifeforms on other planets in the universe might be.

banannabell · 11-14-2009, 07:42 AM

that is freaky and weird.

Area-51 · 11-15-2009, 09:02 AM

Wow, it looks so surreal. it's so fantastic how live evolved on earth.

Great picture by the way.

sw_vile · 11-16-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raves475

This is a great example of how diverse life on earth is. Just image how different lifeforms on other planets in the universe might be.

^ this. Amazing.

vr_don · 11-16-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy"

Indeed...

11-11-2009, 10:06 AM	#1
vr_don Investigator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 195	World’s Freakiest Worm World’s Freakiest Worm Gets Expanded Family Tree Five years after discovering some of the strangest creatures in the world — mouthless worms that live in the bones of dead whales — scientists have taken a peek into their genes. Though not complete, the glimpse shows these creatures to be far more complicated than was known. The worms, found in a gray whale skeleton off the coast of California, prompted scientists to designate them as representatives of an entirely new genus, dubbed Osedax. They belonged to a taxonomic family of marine worms that lack mouths and anuses, and rely entirely on bacteria to absorb and excrete nutrients. But Osedax was unique: Adult males were extremely small, and lived in colonies inside the females. Even more strikingly, they occupied an evolutionary niche comprised entirely of fallen whales. READ MORE

11-14-2009, 07:42 AM	#3
banannabell Investigator Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: all over Posts: 150	that is freaky and weird. __________________ "Think you've seen it all? Think again. Outside those doors, we might see anything. We could find new worlds, terrifying monsters, impossible things. And if you come with me... nothing will ever be the same again!" The Doctor:

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11-11-2009, 03:54 PM	#2
raves475 Investigator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: United States Posts: 114	This is a great example of how diverse life on earth is. Just image how different lifeforms on other planets in the universe might be.

11-15-2009, 09:02 AM	#4
Area-51 Investigator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 459	Wow, it looks so surreal. it's so fantastic how live evolved on earth. Great picture by the way.