Antarctic Scale Worm

About

The Antarctic scale worm is a species of scale worm specifically found in the deep-sea in cold waters like the Antarctic ocean. Growing up to 20 cm in size, this marine worm is covered in overlapping, golden-brown, scale-like plates that give it an armored appearance. But what really makes it unforgettable is its terrifying, extendable jaw — a proboscis lined with sharp, fang-like structures that it uses to capture prey.

A deep-sea predator, it uses a retractable proboscis with large jaws and a powerful muscular pharynx to hunt, and while it mainly lives on the ocean floor, it can swim using coordinated body muscle contractions and parapodia strokes.