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Australian Researchers Discover Unusually Shaped Peanut Worm

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Peanut worms

Australian researchers discovered a marine worm with an interesting shape

(Mirror Daily, United States) – A team of Australian researchers have recently discovered a sea creature with a peculiar shape, which has already gone viral all over the internet. The animal, a peanut worm, looks like a human penis, so it quickly captured the attention of people as soon as the first images were shared.

The peanut worm won the internet with its unusual shape

After a month of expedition off the Australian coast, researchers from the Victoria Museums discovered dozens of interesting creatures hidden in the abyss of the ocean. The peanut worm is not the only creature which amazed them with its appearance. Other discoveries included the faceless fish, the zombie worm, the sea pig, and the crustacean that eats flesh.

However, the one that captured the most online attention was the peanut worm, and we needn’t explain why. As soon as the first picture was published, people kept sharing it and making jokes. Still, we shouldn’t forget of the scientific value of this discovery.

The creature is called peanut worm because, when feeling threatened, it contracts its head, taking the shape of a peanut kernel. Sipunculid worms (as this is the official, more scientific name) consists of 144 to 320 different unsegmented worm species. They are not hard to find, as they populate shallow waters and occupy discarded burrows.

The expedition resulted in numerous sea creatures which have never been seen before

The researchers who found the creatures were aboard The Investigator, a research vessel which, this month, submerged at 4,000 meters below sea level and explored the mysterious marine creatures which populate the area. This expedition became popular after researchers released the image of the rare faceless fish they had discovered.

Around a third of these creatures have been discovered for the first time, so they will be sent to different labs all over Australia for more thorough research. Also, some of them will be exhibited in the Melbourne Museum, but the date is still unknown.


Image Source: Wikipedia

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John Birks

John holds a diploma in journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. He covers the technology, social media, green business, eco-travel, politics, arts culture.

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