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(CNN Spanish) - The image of thousands of marine animals with a distinctive phallic shape - precisely, known as “penis fish” - watered on the sand of Drakes Beach, in California, has not only been news: it has also aroused a wide curiosity about the nature of these beings, which may be somewhat unknown in America, but that in Asia represent food and science has studied to combat evils such as erectile dysfunction.
What specimen is actually the "penis fish" and why have so many of them appeared as if it were an invasion? CNN affiliate KPIX-TV reported that these are “chubby” sea worms, which arrived this week on the shores of the Point Reyes National Seashore reserve after recent storms.
This may just be the weirdest thing you've seen today!
Thousands of these marine worms, called fat innkeeper worms — or "penis fish" —washed up on Drake's Beach after a recent storm. 🌊 But why? https://t.co/MwY6xkN3kb pic.twitter.com/vGMpSvGoAT
- Bay Nature magazine (@BayNature) December 11, 2019
The visit of this unusual species, whose scientific name is Urechis caupo , was initially reported by biologist Ivan Parr in Bay Nature , a non-profit publication that seeks to foster a close relationship with nature in people. The Parr segment, called "Ask the Naturalist," is also funded by the California Center for Natural History. In his text, Parr points out that the Urechis caupo are equiurous worms that are identified by having a tube "in the form of a spatula used to feed and, sometimes, to grab or swim."
In fact, they are defined by Parr as "host fat worms" because they live in the tunnels that dig in the sand under the sea. Parr emphasizes that it belongs to the Echiura family whose population is reduced to four species worldwide. The Urechis caupo is the only one that can be found in North America and is usually found from southern Oregon to Baja California. In addition, the biologist adds, it is believed that these host worms have existed for a long time since fossil evidence of 300 million years of U-shaped burrows was found in which they remain to survive and feed. It is estimated that they can live 25 years, explains Parr.
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But then, if they dig tunnels under the surface, how do they end up crawling on a beach? Parr attributes the situation to heavy storms, "especially in the years of the Child Phenomenon", which reach the intertidal zone, "break the sediments" and leave what was there on the coast. In this case, these marine host worms. Now, the phenomenon of seeing so many specimens of this species on the coast has also been reported in Bodega Bay, in Sonoma County and in Pajaro Dunes, in Santa Cruz, among other places.
Where else is this type of worm?
Another species of these worms is called Urechis unicinctus and can be found on the shores of the Bohai Sea in China, as well as in those of Korea and Japan, according to research published in the National Biotechnology Information Center of the National Library of Medicine of the United States. In fact, large amounts of Urechis unicinctus were observed between 2012 and 2013, due to low tide, according to another scientific report. The study points out that worms were actively swimming at night, a behavior that is attributed to the possibility of doing so to reproduce. The report also notes that Urechis unicinctus "has long been known in Japan and has been attributed to marine storms."
Now, its particular form has aroused curiosity among scientists because the Echiura family, which in turn belongs to annelids, "lacks segmentation in adulthood." What would be the scientific explanation for its form. And that particularity has led to inquiring about their genomes and even the way they developed early.
It has uses that would surprise you ...
In countries in Asia, such as South Korea and Japan, Urechis unicinctus is sold as food, KPIX-TV said. In fact, the Lonely Planet travel specialist site reported that this “chubby” -like “creature” can not only be achieved in South Korea but is considered an aphrodisiac and tastes similar to that of the clam. "Thanks to its ability to retain water, it is possible that when the diner bites him, the worm 'spits' a stream of salt water," the article explains.
Research published in 2016 also sought to determine if the peptides found in these host worms could help with erectile dysfunction. And the result was positive ... at least in rats. According to the authors, after orally delivering the peptides of Urechis unicinctus to rats with induced diabetes for eight weeks there was an "improvement in erectile function." Another study isolated a peptide from these worms that helps prevent blood clotting by inhibiting one of its processes.
California wormsworms