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(April 2) - Staff at a British aquarium have captured a massive sea worm that had been terrorizing other aquatic life.
For months, the 4-foot-long creature -- which staffers call "Barry" -- had been devastating coral reef at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium, the Daily Mail newspaper reported Tuesday. The menacing monster also apparently injured a Tang fish.
Jumbo Worm: This 4-foot-long sea worm was devastating coral reef and terrorizing fish at an aquarium in Cornwall, southwestern England, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday. The creature, known as "Barry," devoured bait traps -- hooks and all -- and bit through a 20-pound fishing line before staffers finally managed to capture it. The worm was moved to its own tank.
Initially, aquarium workers weren't sure what was harming the coral, which in some cases was cut in half. After weeks with no clues, they decided to take the display apart to see if they could find the culprit, the Mail reported.
Workers laid bait traps, which were mysteriously destroyed in the night, as the glutton apparently devoured the fish hooks right along with the bait. Finally, staffers spotted the tropical worm, which bit through a 20-pound fishing line before staffers were able to successfully remove it from the tank.
Skip over this content The creature is covered with nasty bristles that sting and can cause permanent numbness in humans, the newspaper said.
"It really does look like something out of a horror movie," Matt Slater, the aquarium's curator, told the Mail. "It's over 4 feet long with these bizarre-looking jaws."
Slater said he suspects Barry arrived as a baby in a shipment from another aquarium. The worm now lives in his own tank.
For months, the 4-foot-long creature -- which staffers call "Barry" -- had been devastating coral reef at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium, the Daily Mail newspaper reported Tuesday. The menacing monster also apparently injured a Tang fish.
Jumbo Worm: This 4-foot-long sea worm was devastating coral reef and terrorizing fish at an aquarium in Cornwall, southwestern England, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday. The creature, known as "Barry," devoured bait traps -- hooks and all -- and bit through a 20-pound fishing line before staffers finally managed to capture it. The worm was moved to its own tank.
Initially, aquarium workers weren't sure what was harming the coral, which in some cases was cut in half. After weeks with no clues, they decided to take the display apart to see if they could find the culprit, the Mail reported.
Workers laid bait traps, which were mysteriously destroyed in the night, as the glutton apparently devoured the fish hooks right along with the bait. Finally, staffers spotted the tropical worm, which bit through a 20-pound fishing line before staffers were able to successfully remove it from the tank.
Skip over this content The creature is covered with nasty bristles that sting and can cause permanent numbness in humans, the newspaper said.
"It really does look like something out of a horror movie," Matt Slater, the aquarium's curator, told the Mail. "It's over 4 feet long with these bizarre-looking jaws."
Slater said he suspects Barry arrived as a baby in a shipment from another aquarium. The worm now lives in his own tank.
