Maine is Home to a Sea Creature with a Gaping Jaw Full of Metal Teeth

If you do any saltwater fishing, you may already know where this is headed...

I think I read somewhere once, that we know far more about outer space than we do about what lies beneath our own oceans. I don't doubt it. We seemed to have conquered surviving in space, as evidenced by the huge space station orbiting above us. But we have yet to really travel too far down under the ocean in person.

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But honestly, some of the creepiest things found in nature, all seem to come out of the ocean. The weirdest, most bizarre creatures all seem to be aquatic dwellers. Look at the octopus. Some have even speculated their aliens. Others certainly sound like it. For instance, ever see a worm that expands its mouth outwards to expose it's copper teeth?

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That's exactly what the bloodworm does.

Bloodworms are a big deal in the fishing industry. Obviously as bait, but also as a source of income to those who harvest them. But they're also one of those creatures, that if it was any bigger, it would attack you. You can tell by its attitude. But did you know that the four fangs that come out of its face are made of metal?

Yup. Bloodworm teeth can be up to 10% copper. But what's kind of interesting is that they don't produce the copper internally. It's a chemical reaction between their teeth, the minerals in the sediment on the bottom, and the salty water. Next thing you know, you have an ocean-dwelling devil worm that would eat you if it could. Just look...

Meet the Maine Blood Worm, Its Teeth Are Made of Copper!
byu/JennyFromTheBlockJok inInterestingasHell

Did I mention the venom?

Beyond just looking like the Mind Flayer from Stranger Things, these ugly sea worms also possess a certain amount of venom. Not the kind that will necessarily land you in the ER, but it's been compared to a bee sting, and there can also be a secondary infection if not treated properly.

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At most, bloodworms only grow to be about 14 inches long, so there's nothing too terrible to fear. But, if you were to run into one and not know what it is, it could be pretty disturbing. They're not pretty, and they don't have good intentions. I don't really feel all that bad that they just become bait. It's an eat, or be eaten, world out there...