Have you ever heard of the Mongolian deathworm?

They're a mythical creature, rumored to patrol the Gobi Desert, and according to those who

claim to have seen them, they're a large, fat, massive earthworm creature, about three feet

long, dark red, with spiny projections at both ends.

They allegedly burrow through the desert sands and, according to legend, they can surface

to shoot electricity and corrosive venom and perform other similar nasty magic tricks.

Some locals insist the creature exists, though with varying degrees of commitment to the more fantastic claims.

This animal, real or otherwise, has captured the imagination of much of the world.

This myth, like Bigfoot, like the Yeti, and like similar cryptids, has been a true mythical export.

They've appeared in more than enough articles and stories and TV shows.

Some scientists have gone on career-risking unsuccessful excursions to try and find this animal.

I can only assume that they believe the legend is only partially true.

I really can't imagine any scientist

going out there with voltage testers. But either way. The concept of a massive monster worm

buried underneath the sand is undeniably a fascinating one. And we've seen it reproduced everywhere in fiction from

the Dune series to SpongeBob. It's a fascinating concept. But who needs concepts when you have

reality? Today we're going to talk about an animal not from the sands of the Gobi Desert,

but from the sands of warm oceans around

the world. An animal that is, in reality, far more terrifying an alien than any drawing of the

Mongolian deathworm. This is an animal that is three times bigger than their imaginary counterpart, and infinitely more interesting.

They are the Bobbit worm, Eunice Aphroditis. I'm Mackin. This is Species.

Welcome to the show.

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