This archive report was first published on 14 December 2019.
On December 14, 2019, a California beach was left with an unexpected sight after a strong winter storm exposed thousands of marine worms known as 'penis fish'.
The creatures, officially known as fat innkeeper worms, covered Drakes Beach, located 50 miles north of San Francisco.
Despite their unusual appearance, these worms are skilled at digging U-shaped burrows on beaches and marshes, using the tunnels to catch food.
Found almost exclusively in California, they are considered a delicacy in South Korea, where they are believed to have aphrodisiac effects.
A marine worm in Bodega beach, California. PHOTO | KATE MONTANA | INATURALIST | AFP
Biologist Ivan Parr explained that the worms' shape is perfectly suited for their underground lifestyle, and that fossil evidence of the animals dates back at least 300 million years.
"Yes, the physical design of the fat innkeeper worm has some explaining to do," Parr wrote. "But the fat innkeeper is perfectly shaped for a life spent underground."
