Figure above from Jones et al. (2007). Figure 1. (a) Deployed 'bone tree' adjacent towhale-2893 during May 2006. (b) In situ close-up fromhigh definition video of Osedax rubiplumus and O. nude-palp-A on cow bone adjacent to whale-1820. (c) Close-up of the four palps from O. nude-palp-A showing paired blood vessels in each palp and absence of pinnules. (d )Dwarf (paedomorphic) males isolated fromthe tube of O. rubiplumus specimen shown in (b).
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...but there is more than one species of bone-eating worm! The genus Osedax (Annedida: Siboglinidae) are common features of dead whale falls and obtain their nutrition through bone-penetrating roots that host symbiotic bacteria. Whale bones don't have chance! The first species was described in…
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This is all part of the bone-devouring worm's plan. First they take our dolphins, next? It'll be our women and children!! Madness I tell you! Destroy all zombie worms!