Strangest Invertebrate Ever

Daniel O'Brien    says:

I've only got pro just recently - thanks to Evan, Cheers mate - so this video is of an animal i've have posted photos of but not a video. The pictures just don't give this amazing animal justice. Heres the photo i uploaded a while ago.
Before

teejaybee    says:

Damn that is unusual! Maybe try the ID-please group? Would be interesting to see what it is.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Eric in SF    says:

Ok, that's just weird.

My first thought is it's a leech of some kind. But I have almost zero knowledge of tropical creepy-crawlies.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

zosterops    says:

That is amazing. I have not idea what it is...although I have a nagging suspicion that I've seen a photo of something like it in one of my books...I'll try to find it.




--
Seen in Field Guide to Insects of Australia (?)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Artist Naturalist    says:

confess up-digital effects-there is no animal in nature like this! Just kidding-I have no idea what it is!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

employeeno5 says:

You've been submitted to reddit.

One of the commenters seems to think it might be this.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

cfabbro says:

It is a Nemertea, probably a type of Hoplonemertea; a terrestrial Nemertea in the class Enopla.

It could be a Argonemertes stocki as they are native to New South Wales.

This is the best source I could find on Terrestrial Nemertea:

www.springerlink.com/content/p83826734m707v81 /
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

merfam    says:

WTF ?!?!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

eyeaml337    says:

looks like this is your worm (slug?)
www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=nemer tea
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

23fnords    says:

Alien invaders comes in many shapes.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Dubious Drewski - A Lethbridge Photographer    says:

Man, those are some rough looking hands...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

DisGuyLa says:

wow!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ArghMonkey    says:

WoW, I just puked in my mouth ...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

TomConger    says:

That's amazing. It seems as though its tongue-lookin' thing would take up his entire body when it's retracted.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Snottlebocket says:

The weirdest part is that I've seen these things in and Oddworld game. Abe's exoddus has slug creatures that pull themselfs forth by their tongue.

Art imitates life I guess.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ptspitinurface says:

It's a pokemon !
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

jawbone54    says:

Very intriguing, but disgusting.

Loved the video. Thanks for sharing!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Rooney.    says:

I for one welcome our new worm overlords

--
Seen on digg.com (?)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Toby Barnett says:

That is slightly gross...felt weird just looking at it.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Sirlancealot2008 says:

I think its a blood worm. Seen it(or something that looks like it)in dirty jobs hosted by Mike Rowe, I could be wrong =p. Does it have teeth?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

intric8    says:

Was the worm prodded by a finger from the dead, recently having clawed out of its own grave? That's a zombie's finger if I've ever seen one.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

randylf says:

Wow that is creepy.


Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

anang_5 says:

thats its penis. they get aroused when you touch their ass so their penis gets larger ;)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

BioGeek    says:

Try submitting it to the ID Please group on iNaturalist. The site nicely integrates with Flickr, so it's a very easy and quick process.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dragko    says:

Looks to me like a blood worm.

Becareful they bite.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

JPhilipson    says:

wow, it's like a grappeling hook!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

mansillaDEV    says:

First time I followed a link through SocialBrowse.com and it was to this photo/video entry. On both accounts (the odd little critter, and SocialBrowse), awesome.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Andrés Kazán says:

Dude, that worm is poisonous. Be careful. It's a Nemertea (Gorgonorhynchus repens). Google it.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

gwizah says:

Wow...it looks like the "looping" escape response described here:

link

"Some nemertimes probably use the same trick of limited ventral contact points, but many of themm have an additional "looping" strategy to achieve fast escape movements: the proboscis is shot out ahead of the worm and its tip adheres to the ground, so that the rest of the body can be drawn up to it using longitudunal muscular contractions."

jankoraseta says:

What the hell is it?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

leggymclego says:

That's a "parasyte" from the manga "Kiseijuu".
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ObsidianStout says:

It's a Regulan Blood Worm.

Star Trek man. Read it. Watch it. Live it.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Pictures from Heather    says:

I agree, bloodworm. Those things are nasty.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

meowspeaker2 says:

блин, мне бы было страшно, что оно вопьется мне в руку
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

cikaga jamie says:

I just had to sign in to say that is (and the comments are) the funniest thing i have seen all day. THANKS for the laughs! anyway here in Chicago we call them Politicians...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

macfusion says:

it's a horny worm! every time you touch it it gets a hard on! Shhhwinggg
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Mutiny32 says:

Nuke it from orbit, that's the only way you can be sure.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Glebkach    says:

Какой необычный зверек. Ну это уж слишком.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

★hime's images★    says:

that has to be the craziest worm on the planet...and u got it on your hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....way to take one for the team.

--
Seen on digg.com (?)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

MyteeDave says:

It looks like Andreas Kazan is correct- Nemertea. You can see a pic of one here: www.mbari.org/benthic/other.html
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

gilmalonzo says:

viagra overdosius
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

bunkscene says:

wait.... that animal/insect is weird.... but my main question is: is that a human hand or a zombie hand?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

JASmedia says:

that is so nasty
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

pexicus says:

Yep, Nemertea allright. What a charming little guy.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Russ Clark    says:

Whatever it is... get it off your hand... Noooooooooooo :)
It might be the lesser known 'hand burrowing' nematodes

Wow, I wasn't expecting it to move like that, thanks for sharing.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Milgaviel says:

some of the comments on here are a lot weirder than that lovely and interesting worm/slug invertebrate

nice find and thank you for sharing
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

NT-R says:

creature is weird comments are hilarious
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

kertenkelekral    says:

I dont know what the heck it is but when my sister was born, she looked exactly the same
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

IsaacWN    says:

Oh, I don't want to see it...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

awhispell    says:

I think that it is:
- NEMERTEA
- NEMERTINEA
- NEMERTINI
- HOPLONEMERTEA
- MONOSTILIFERA
- TETRASTEMMATIDAE

Prostoma spp. generally are less than 25mm long. The anterior is blunt with a rounded frontal lobe lying wholly before the brain, the posterior slightly tapered. The rhynchocoel (proboscis sheath) extends about 2/3 to 3/4 the length of the adult body, almost the full length in juveniles. Colour varies with age, being typically white or cream in juveniles and orange, red or green in mature specimens. Eye number is typically 2 in juveniles, 4-6 in adults. The muscular proboscis generally is longer than the body and so lies coiled in the rhynchocoel. The proboscis is armed with a stylet (terminal when the proboscis is extended, thus about half-way along when the proboscis is retracted) comprising a single central thorn on a conical base. Two or more lateral pockets contain reserve thorns in various stages of development. The mouth opens within a combined rhynchodaeum/buccal cavity from underneath the rhynchocoel.

www.lucidcentral.com/keys/lwrrdc/public/Aquat ics/aatop/ht...
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dagamant17 says:

A lot of people keep saying its a ribbon worm, but ribbon worms are marine worms, the live in the ocean. this little guy was found under a log. it looks to me like that extension might have several uses. it may hive tiny fangs at the very end of it and use it to grab prey and engulf it similar to the blood worms used as fishing bait do.

New south wales is a pretty big place, could you be a little more specific as to where you are finding them? near the ocean or not? i cant find anything that even looks related to your little friends.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

derumi says:

It's most likely a geonemertes australiensis, a terrestrial ribbon worm (as opposed to the many aquatic forms).
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Tzarowski says:

Madrecita!!
Tiny Mother!!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

awhispell    says:

Reply to dagamant17:

Almost all Nemertea are marine but a few species live in freshwater or are terrestrial. Two families (Tetrastemmatidae, Prosorhochmidae) are recorded from fresh water in New Zealand and one (Tetrastemmatidae) in Australia.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ZLamperti    says:

Crazy! O_O
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Dennis Apego says:

Flesh eaters?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Daniel O'Brien    says:

Thanks everyone for your interest in my video and thanks to those who have helped in the identification. I'm pretty sure we are on the right track down to the family but i am not sure of the genera because not many have been described yet.

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Protostomia
Superphylum: Lophotrochozoa
Phylum: Nemertea
Classis: Enopla
Ordo: Hoplonemertea
Subordo: Monostilifera
Familia: Tetrastemmatidae

Possible Genera: Algonemertes - Amphinemertes - Arenonemertes - Nemertellina - Prostoma - Prostomatella - Prostomiopsis - Sacconemertella - Sacconemertes - Sacconemertopsis - Tetrastemma
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

worms2u says:

You have your answer pokerchampdaniel: ten points to derumi for getting it right, five points to awhispell for getting close (and demonstrating the hazard of using an incomplete identification guide), three points to everyone who recognized that this is a pretty cool animal, zero to all the zeroes out there who think anything weird to them is a joke or something to freak out about - grow up. PS, species are described, not genera; genera are just used to designate groups of related species. But, yes, many species have not been described. This one looks just like one that has been described and is common in Tasmania.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Daniel O'Brien    says:

The ones i have found have been around 20-30km from the coast ranging from northern nsw to central nsw.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Robertv! (Edinburgh, UK)    says:

Whatever that thing is, can you keep it the hell away from me?
Many thanks.

Yech!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

laconics    says:

that is one funky worm! great video! - but your friend needs a manicure desperately! :)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

necro_will    says:

go go gadget worm pecker!!!!! thats just freakin weird. bugs rule
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Goggla    says:

Congrats, you're on Boing Boing.

Cool worm - I've never seen anything like it.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

Lance Uppercut2008 says:

This is some sort of parasitic nematode . . . pretty gross.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

kenahoo    says:

That's a peenworm if I've ever seen one. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP3P-ZVv91Q
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

lestyoubejudged says:

It faintly reminds me of something I remember seeing as a child.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

B N C T O N Y    says:

ouahhhh
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

bigredpenguin    says:

Yo, what do you think would come shooting out of you if you were prodded by the un-dead?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

draco_cd    says:

If you guys think that's weird, look up onychophorans (velvet worms). Or any member of platyhelminthes. INVERTEBRATES RULE!! :-)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

kelaltieri says:

Zomg, aliens!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dannif says:

go to whatsthatbug.com
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ashabot    says:

Wonderful creature. I hope you don't kill it with curiosity like so many idiot "researchers" do.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

raymilauren    says:

my barf just barfed! haha.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

felpef says:

Awesome!, that's effing weird. I really would like to visit Australia sometime
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

peter760504    says:

天啊....是沒想像中的噁啦....可是還是不太舒服..
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

elfgirl97    says:

dang thats awesome!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

riverdeer24 says:

What does it taste like?
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

caughtyouhoney    says:

!!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

dotlizard    says:

no idea what it might be, but pretty sure i wouldn't let it crawl on my hand. yikes!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

lilkay2006 says:

www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=nemer tea

Bootlace and ribbon worms - Nemertea
here hope this helps
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

ModestLife says:

So amazed that the pull-tongue appears to have more volume than the body at rest! It seems like a vulnerable way to travel, especially if all you are is a tube to begin with. Kinda like the weirdness of the sea cucumber.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

raygun jones says:

I saw this video on myspace and it's probably the most bizarre thing I've ever seen! It kinda creeps me out, it's like something from space.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

barbara.elaw ceiling done! walls next!    says:

glad you've got an id
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

violetz_85 says:

bleah, it's disgusting!!!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

xflickrx says:

The dude's thumb is nastier than the slime creature!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

chris_parsnip says:

nemertea- i study these in invertebrates at uni. the organ is called a proboscis and resides in an organ called a rhinocoel. its powered by a hydraulic system so by poking it you're stimulating it to fire. some species have a spike on the end to imale prey
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

juliusdeane65 says:

its a orange ribbon worm
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

Surfshot says:

omg barf
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

marcus5s says:

ieeuuuww!!! but cool though!
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

mantidboy    says:

Eugh, wierd thing {8O
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

markus_buehler says:

BTW, the worm-like monsters in Peter Jackson´s King Kong which were named "Vile Meat Weasels" (Carnictis sordicus) were actually based on this animals.
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

moonglampers    says:

I believe Australia has the market cornered on bizarre wildlife!
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

bewilderbeast69 says:

Looks like Gorgonorhynchus repens, but where did you find it? They can apparently be found in intertidal sandy areas .
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

LeoBlackHeart! says:

Thank You for posting your Video on Videos on Flickr,

Invite your Family, Friends and Contacts to see it!
www.flickr.com/groups/videosonflickr/

Ciao and be 'SAFE'
Sean Ellan....
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

nasa1fan/MSFC    says:

OMG! I almost jumped out of my chair when the tongue(?) shot out. Wash your hands -- dirt is fine, but this thing looks beyond poisonous. Yikes.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

Just Frogging About says:

very interesting read Daniel. Hopefully you will find more later this year.

Riona
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

ex_magician    says:

Cool.

--
Seen in the group"100 000 views" (?)
Posted 6 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Butter Fields says:

Hi, I'm on the otherside of the planet - Europe - but is this anything like what you have? Found it in my garden.

www.flickr.com/photos/ddod/4035080689/

www.flickr.com/photos/ddod/4035855186/

I've taken to calling it a Slug/Worm Thing- not very scientific I know but it fits!
Posted 4 weeks ago. ( permalink )

BassPeer says:

That's really strange! Reminds me a bit on bad sci-fi movies from the 70's, but it's much cooler because it's real :D
Posted 4 weeks ago. ( permalink )