Australian scientists have discovered a flatworm that has a bizarre sex ritual that looks like penis fencing. The flatworm also squirt digestive juices into oysters and barnacles and then suck out the flesh. The Syndney Morning Heraldreports on these creatures discovered in Botany Bay.
WHAT is spineless, loves oysters, wears beige with purple flecks and fences with its penis?
It might sound like the first half of a joke about a despised profession but in fact such a creature has just been discovered in the waters of Botany Bay.
Scientists from the University of NSW will this week announce the discovery of a new species of flatworm found at a depth of about three metres underneath Kurnell Pier.
Named Imogine lateotentare, the creature is a member of the little understood group of predators commonly known as oyster leeches. Its discovery is to be announced in the Journal of Natural History.
More about these flatworms can be found on UPI and Sploid.
