All articles tagged with #zombie worms
Researchers at LUMCON discovered a new species of bone-eating 'zombie worms' in the Gulf of Mexico after dropping dead alligators into deep water, revealing unexpected rapid scavenging by isopods and large predators like sharks, highlighting the surprising complexity of deep-sea ecosystems.
Researchers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium conducted an experiment in which they dropped dead alligators into the deep sea to observe the reactions of deep-dwelling creatures. They were surprised to find that large isopods quickly devoured the alligator carcasses, penetrating their tough hides and eating the flesh from the inside out. A new species of bone-eating worm, belonging to the Osedax family, was also discovered feeding on the remains. The researchers concluded that a large scavenger, possibly a shark, had likely consumed the third alligator.