A recent deep-sea experiment has led to the discovery of a “zombie worm” species capable of devouring entire alligators. Conducted by researchers at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), this study has revealed some truly unexpected behaviors from ocean scavengers. The experiment involved dropping three dead alligators into the Gulf of Mexico, aiming to see how creatures in the deep would react to an unusual food source. What the scientists observed was far more dramatic than anticipated.
The Experiment That Shook the Sea
Back in 2019, the LUMCON team sent three dead alligators 6,560 feet (2,000 meters) to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, curious to see how deep-sea scavengers would interact with them. At first, the researchers believed that the alligators‘ tough hides would deter scavengers, as they would make it difficult to reach the more desirable soft tissue beneath. However, this assumption was quickly overturned.
Within just one day, a group of nine large isopods, Bathynomus giganteus, was already seen feasting on the first carcass. These foot-long creatures, often likened to pink woodlice, managed to gnaw through the alligator’s tough hide and began eating the soft flesh from the inside out. The researchers were astonished by how quickly these scavengers adapted to the challenge, breaking through the protective skin of a reptile that most predators would shy away from.
A Mysterious “Zombie Worm” Species
The second alligator, dropped about 100 kilometers away, was almost entirely consumed within 51 days. Only its skull, spine, and the anchor used to weigh it down remained. But it was what the researchers found around these remains that truly stunned them. The bones of the alligator had been infested by a new species of bone-eating worm, a member of the Osedax family. These creatures, often called “zombie worms,” are known for their ability to bore into and feed on the bones of dead animals.
What made this discovery particularly exciting was that this particular species had never been observed in the Gulf of Mexico. The researchers identified the creature as closely related to other Osedax species found in Antarctica and California, marking it as a previously undescribed species. In a paper published in PLOS, the team announced that the creature “will be named in due course,” hinting at the immense significance of their find.
The Disappearance of the Third Alligator
While the second alligator met a clear and relatively rapid fate, the third alligator took a more mysterious turn. Within just eight days of being dropped into the ocean, the carcass completely vanished. The scientists were initially perplexed, as there were no remains left behind to study. However, after finding the anchor, shackle, and rope used to weigh the alligator down—about 8.3 meters away—they theorized that the carcass had been dragged off by a large scavenger.
The researchers concluded that a “large scavenger” was likely responsible for consuming the alligator, with the most probable candidate being a large shark. The size and power needed to consume such a large reptile and move its considerable weight suggested that only a creature of such magnitude could have caused the disappearance. The deep sea, it seems, hides its own set of predators, ready to claim what the scavengers leave behind.
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