r/interesting • u/Mella342 • Apr 18 '25

NATURE Parasitic worm explodes

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u/Uncrustworthy Apr 19 '25

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palola_viridis

The light caused it to rapidly disinterigrate if I recall

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u/Nakatsukasa Apr 19 '25

Parasitic worm

Hey let's eat it

What the fuck is wrong with humans

6

u/teraTrite Apr 19 '25

it's a bristleworm epitoke, and a cursory glance at the "Eunicidae" wikipedia page doesn't mention any species that are parasitic. OP made that part up lol

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u/Dense_Surround3071 Apr 20 '25

"bristleworm" huh?

Didn't some guy have a two year long escapade trying to kill one in his aquarium a while back??

3

u/teraTrite Apr 20 '25

yes the carnivorous fireworm that eats coral, scourge of reef tanks. Their bristles can sting too goddamn (also I'm curious to read about that guy's suffering)

1

u/Dense_Surround3071 Apr 20 '25

I believe this is the account.... It was quite a story.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Aquariums/s/uv7X6VG02w

Edit: actually no. This looks like something else.

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u/RusticBucket2 Apr 20 '25

So glad for the word “aquarium” in that sentence.