Zombie Worm (Osedax mucofloris): Also known as bone-eating worms, these bizarre creatures thrive on the sunken skeletons of dead whales. Discovered in 2002, they lack a mouth and digestive system, instead using root-like structures to secrete acids that break down bone and absorb nutrients. Symbiotic bacteria help digest lipids and collagen. Females form colonies on bones, while microscopic males live inside them. They appear as feathery red plumes waving in the current. Their existence reveals a hidden ecosystem dependent on whale falls. The zombie worm’s macabre lifestyle and alien form underscore the deep sea’s reliance on death and decomposition to sustain life in the abyss.
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