Re:'Bloodworms' harvest copper for metal jaws
by adrian_b on Saturday April 30, 2022 @04:43AM
(#31214410)
Actually this is not so.
The worms extrude their pharynx, i.e. the anterior part of their digestive tube, through their mouth and catch the prey, and then they pull the prey in their mouth, like some of the alien monsters from various SF movies (which were obviously inspired by such worms).
Catching a prey from behind does not seem to be of much use, because the prey would not be chasing the predator.
For a worm, which normally slides through narrow passages or which burrows in the sand, it is not easy to turn around with the rear end towards what was previously in front.
The worms extrude their pharynx, i.e. the anterior part of their digestive tube, through their mouth and catch the prey, and then they pull the prey in their mouth, like some of the alien monsters from various SF movies (which were obviously inspired by such worms).
Catching a prey from behind does not seem to be of much use, because the prey would not be chasing the predator.
For a worm, which normally slides through narrow passages or which burrows in the sand, it is not easy to turn around with the rear end towards what was previously in front.