A bizarre marine worm from Antarctica is captivating—and terrifying—people online. Known as Eulagisca gigantea, it sports shimmering golden bristles and a retractable, tooth-lined pharynx that can extend up to 2 inches, revealing its predatory nature.
Measuring around 8 inches long, this deep-sea worm is part of the polychaete family, a diverse group of bristle worms found from coral reefs to hydrothermal vents. While striking images have gone viral recently, scientists have known about the species since 1939, though much of its biology remains a mystery.
Its metallic bristles may help with swimming, defense, or crawling along the seafloor, while its jaws allow it to feed on other marine creatures. The worm highlights the incredible diversity—and sometimes alien-like strangeness—of life in the ocean’s depths.
Eulagisca gigantea is more than a viral curiosity; it’s a reminder of the fascinating creatures thriving far beneath the waves.
