Page 12 - Edition_517

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
Australian Diver Stumbles Across “Penis Worm” During An Ocean Floor Diving Trip
By Armeen Hedayat
An Australian free diver, Josie Jones captured pictures of a sea creature that surprisingly resembles a human penis.
The images went viral on social media with count- less amatory comments. Josie, in fact, was exploring the depth of the ocean for many years until the recent discovery brought a witty shock to her.
Some weeks ago, the Australian diver 48, was probing the wet ground, when a creature gradually wriggled on the surface of sandy Rye Front Beach in Victoria. It was a sort of sea worm that identi- cally resembled a human penis. Though it seemed
weird to compare the marine being with a human genital organ, the likeness was so proximate that Jones picked up her underwater camera and shot the bizarre ‘penis worm’.
The diver soon uploaded her wacky images on social media when she couldn’t keep her enthusi- asm and passion
for animals to her- self only. She has on a mission to clean the beach for 10 years. Her effort to protect local marine life through her litter campaign is called The Only Butt.
While many view- ers have called the creature a sea cucumber, the creature, in fact, was found out to be a Priapulida,
who lives in cold waters of sandy or muddy sea floors. They can reach a length of 8 inches, the little one, however, prefers shallow waters. They are the living fossils and are named after Priapos, the Greek god of fer- tility and male virility. Priapulidas live in waters around 300ft deep. The worms bury their body in
the mud. The mud is their food. These prehistoric creatures were once taken as big predators.
Josie commented, ‘It was a sea cucumber or penis worm, only the nerds get crazy on what subspecies it is. We have over 160 species living under our pier.’
The penis worm
images on Facebook sparked impish jokes on Social Media. Jones is delighted to share pictures of these incredible animals with the world.
"I really enjoy documenting the marine species in my area and watching the reefs thrive," Jones wrote.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine