Walkers met them on a beach in California: penis fish
Thousands of these hedgehog worms have washed up on a beach in California. They are between ten and thirty centimeters long, pink and their shape is reminiscent of the male penis. Hence the name “penis fish”, known scientifically as “Urechis caupo”.
So they are penis-shaped fish that usually like to hide in dark, damp caves. Now it's up to you how you deal with this information.
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Storm carried the worms to the beach
According to local website Bay Nature , the worms were washed up on Drakes Beach, north of San Francisco, after a storm. These appear again and again on beaches along the coast, especially in El Niño years. High waves transport the worms out of their underground burrows. Once stranded, many of them die and serve as food for seagulls.
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In the life of a penis fish
Underground caves are its home, where small animals often live and feed on the leftover food.
The worms dig a U-shaped burrow, the entrance to which is closed by a slimy web at high tide. By contracting its body, the worm repeatedly pumps water through the burrow, allowing it to filter out microorganisms as food. The family Urechidae, which only has four species, has existed for at least 300 million years. The worm can live up to 25 years as long as it does not wash up on a beach and become food.
By the way: In some countries, such as South Korea, the worm is considered a delicacy.
Maybe change the Christmas menu from classic fish to penis fish?
Source: Spiegel.de
Article image: Shutterstock / Kate Montana / iNaturalist
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