8/12/2004: Whalebone-eating worm

Undertoad · 08-12-2004, 12:18 PM

This is Osedax frankpressi. It's a newly-discovered species, and its job is to eat the bones of whales. (Thx elspode)

The full story explains that this tiny little creature exists only to feast on such bones, when the whales die, and are a part of the whole ecosystem that helps the whales decompose productively I guess.

According to the caption, This female worm, from the newly designated species Osedax frankpressi, has been dissected in the whale bone. The green tissue is where bacteria are found, and part of it has been torn, exposing the white ovary. A reddish "palp" captures oxygen for the worms and the bacteria.

How large is it? The largest female tubeworms the scientists recovered are about as long as your index finger and as thick as a pencil. What about the males? they live inside the females.

But it's more interesting to think of it as just another example of how weird, beautiful little things live all around us and we may not even know it.

lookout123 · 08-12-2004, 01:15 PM

just imagine what may be chewing on your bones without you knowledge right now.

Cyber Wolf · 08-12-2004, 01:19 PM

Another member of Nature's cleanup crew at work. Awesome. :thumpsup:

Undertoad · 08-12-2004, 01:20 PM

Actually I was fibbing. This is the new Xbox2 controller.

beavis · 08-12-2004, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Actually I was fibbing. This is the new Xbox2 controller.

bwahaha nice dood

YellowBolt · 08-12-2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Actually I was fibbing. This is the new Xbox2 controller.

Bwahaha look at how advanced it is!

In all seriousness though, that's some weird looking stuff.

Skunks · 08-12-2004, 04:52 PM

Does it eat whale boners, too? I mean, how does this interfere with whales boning whales? Can they just be, "bone, bone, bone" without any trouble, or is it like crabs for whales?

mmmBoy · 08-12-2004, 05:38 PM

Didn't we already see this one? Oh yeah, here.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-12-2004, 05:59 PM

Damn, it's not a critter, it's a community.

Trilby · 08-12-2004, 06:41 PM

See-this is why I don't go into the sea. They're always finding some new species of something gross in there. Just think what that would feel like if you stepped on it--YUCK

Cyber Wolf · 08-13-2004, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

See-this is why I don't go into the sea. They're always finding some new species of something gross in there. Just think what that would feel like if you stepped on it--YUCK

Ever take a look at dust mites and other near-microscopic critters with filaments and millions of legs that live on human skin and in human hair? Makes you want to take a shower.

Trilby · 08-13-2004, 08:34 AM

I try very hard not to think about it. I heard that taking a shower only makes those critters worse---they thrive in hot, humid conditions. I am grossed out and it's not even noon yet.

And no I am NOT advocating for less showers. If nursing has taught me anything it's that people need showers and baths with lots of soap and sometimes the only thing that will do is a good body wax.

Happy Monkey · 08-14-2004, 06:00 PM

I just got back from the beaches of North Carolina, (7.5 hours of driving, with a hurricane on my tail). This year there were quite a few wormlike things completely encrusted with shells, which I hadn't seen before. There's always something wierd and new lurking in the ocean.

SteveDallas · 08-14-2004, 07:27 PM

They eat whale bones?? That could cause problems for any of the ladies who are wearing corsets....

xoxoxoBruce · 08-14-2004, 11:13 PM

Weren't corset stays actually Baleen, Steve?

08-12-2004, 12:18 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	8/12/2004: Whalebone-eating worm This is Osedax frankpressi. It's a newly-discovered species, and its job is to eat the bones of whales. (Thx elspode) The full story explains that this tiny little creature exists only to feast on such bones, when the whales die, and are a part of the whole ecosystem that helps the whales decompose productively I guess. According to the caption, This female worm, from the newly designated species Osedax frankpressi, has been dissected in the whale bone. The green tissue is where bacteria are found, and part of it has been torn, exposing the white ovary. A reddish "palp" captures oxygen for the worms and the bacteria. How large is it? The largest female tubeworms the scientists recovered are about as long as your index finger and as thick as a pencil. What about the males? they live inside the females. But it's more interesting to think of it as just another example of how weird, beautiful little things live all around us and we may not even know it.

08-12-2004, 01:15 PM	#2
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	just imagine what may be chewing on your bones without you knowledge right now. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

08-12-2004, 01:19 PM	#3
Cyber Wolf As stable as a ring of PU-239 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: On a huge rock covered in water, highly advanced moss and 7 billion parasites Posts: 1,264	Another member of Nature's cleanup crew at work. Awesome. :thumpsup: __________________ "I don't see what's so triffic about creating people as people and then getting' upset 'cos they act like people." ~Adam Young, Good Omens "I don't see why it matters what is written. Not when it's about people. It can always be crossed out." ~Adam Young, Good Omens

08-12-2004, 05:59 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Damn, it's not a critter, it's a community. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-13-2004, 08:34 AM	#12
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I try very hard not to think about it. I heard that taking a shower only makes those critters worse---they thrive in hot, humid conditions. I am grossed out and it's not even noon yet. And no I am NOT advocating for less showers. If nursing has taught me anything it's that people need showers and baths with lots of soap and sometimes the only thing that will do is a good body wax. Last edited by Trilby; 08-13-2004 at 08:37 AM.

08-12-2004, 01:20 PM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Actually I was fibbing. This is the new Xbox2 controller.

08-12-2004, 04:52 PM	#7
Skunks I thought I changed this. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: western nowhere, ny Posts: 412	Does it eat whale boners, too? I mean, how does this interfere with whales boning whales? Can they just be, "bone, bone, bone" without any trouble, or is it like crabs for whales?

08-12-2004, 05:38 PM	#8
mmmBoy El Queso Grande Join Date: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 54	Didn't we already see this one? Oh yeah, here.

08-12-2004, 06:41 PM	#10
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	See-this is why I don't go into the sea. They're always finding some new species of something gross in there. Just think what that would feel like if you stepped on it--YUCK

08-14-2004, 06:00 PM	#13
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I just got back from the beaches of North Carolina, (7.5 hours of driving, with a hurricane on my tail). This year there were quite a few wormlike things completely encrusted with shells, which I hadn't seen before. There's always something wierd and new lurking in the ocean. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

08-14-2004, 07:27 PM	#14
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	They eat whale bones?? That could cause problems for any of the ladies who are wearing corsets....

08-14-2004, 11:13 PM	#15
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Weren't corset stays actually Baleen, Steve? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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