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Here's an image of a creature with enough venom to take down a fish and leave human skin numb forever. Ethan Daniels / ShutterstockThe bobbit worm, scientifically named Eunice aphroditois, is a species of segmented worm in the phylum Annelida. This family includes about 22,000 species of earthworms, leeches, and other marine worms (polychaetes).
Polychaetes have segmented bodies connected by flexible tissue. Each segment is equipped with paddle-like parapodia flaps that assist with movement and respiration.
What Do Bobbit Worms Look Like?
Science is packed with creatures that can send shivers down your spine, and the bobbit worm is certainly one of the scariest.
It’s like an underwater centipede on a bad trip — or should we say, a “bobbit worm at night.”
scubaluna / ShutterstockThis worm sports a long, slender body that can stretch up to 10 feet, with colors ranging from a glossy black to a deep, oil-slick purple.
Its glowing skin might make it an interesting addition to an aquarium, but its aggressive temperament would keep the other marine residents constantly on edge.
The bobbit worm is easily identified by its five antennae that stick out from its head, which lacks eyes, and its wide mouth filled with sharp jaws capable of severing prey in half.
The worm hunts by burrowing deep into the ocean floor's sediment, leaving only its sensitive bristles exposed to detect movement. When it senses its next meal, it bursts from its hiding spot and drags the prey back into its burrow.
Where Do Bobbit Worms Live?
Bobbit worms thrive in some of the planet's harshest environments. While they may be found in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, they favor the stony coral reefs of warm marine waters.
Reefs offer the ideal terrain for the worms to burrow and hide, while they move between the rocks in search of their next meal.
What Is the Average Bobbit Worm Striking Distance?
If this image isn’t already mind-blowing, remember that bobbit worms can grow as long as 10 feet (3.1 meters). Thierry Eidenweil / ShutterstockThe striking range of a "sand striker" depends on its tail length and the sensitivity of its bristles. Like many ambush predators, the bobbit worm relies on stealth, speed, and patience, waiting for the perfect moment to attack its prey.
And just when you think its creepy form and razor-sharp jaws are enough to haunt your nightmares, its bristles also carry enough venom to paralyze a fish in an instant.
While the antennae of the bobbit worm don't produce enough toxin to kill humans, those who have encountered its mouth describe a painful sting that could leave the skin numb permanently.
Where Did This Polychaete Worm Get Its Nickname?
Consider yourself warned: this story gets graphic and serves as proof that scientists have a wicked sense of humor when naming creatures.
The bobbit worm is a patient hunter, carefully waiting for the perfect moment to launch its ambush on unsuspecting prey.
Jack Pokoj / ShutterstockThe most fitting theory behind the creature's name suggests that the scientific term Eunice aphroditois is a subtle homage to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Another possibility points to the 1993 Lorena Bobbitt case.
In case you’re not familiar with the Lorena Bobbitt story, here’s the quick version: A furious wife severed her husband's penis with a kitchen knife while he slept, then drove off and tossed the severed part out the car window.
Despite rumors that a wild animal devoured the evidence, Lorena Bobbitt helped the police find the severed appendage in time for it to be surgically reattached. (Yes, we know some of you were wondering.)
As reported by BBC Earth, the name Eunice aphroditois was coined in a 1996 field guide, with a nod to the infamous story.
In 2009, Don Arndt, an aquarium enthusiast, unintentionally brought a bobbit worm home when he bought a chunk of live rock from a local store. Bobbit worms aren’t exactly the best aquarium companions, so Arndt tried everything to get rid of his new unwanted guest. He even resorted to liquid copper, dewormer, super glue, and broken glass—but nothing worked. Eventually, he managed to rid himself of the persistent pest, proving the worm's remarkable ability to survive.
