Falmouth Oyster

[NickNap]

Bought some oysters last week in Falmouth - on opening one, a red worm about 25mm long & 3mm wide slid out along with the water. The oyster itself looked OK. Never seen anything like it before and googling hasn't found anything - anyone out there know what I nearly ate?

 

[pampas]

Worm from my bait I dumped last year

 

[Appleyard]

Hope you didn't waste the oyster!!!

 

[Channel Ribs]

It was probably a molusc parvosite, they have evolved in symbiosis with the oyster and live peacefuly in the host's shell. Once eaten by a predator though, they become a tapeworm of massive proportions. They even grow tendrils, which extend to all the major organs and can erupt from the the soft tissue and skin in extreme cases.

Is is April yet? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[JKay]

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

cheers Joe

 

[NickNap]

That's uncanny - don't know how you know about these things, but a few minutes after reading your posting, something burst from my abdomen. Was too terrified to go after it, but did hear a pwc start up and fade off into the distance. Could that have been it?

 

[Channel Ribs]

The parvosite itself would not have been driving the jetski, thats just silly. The matured 'hatchling' does require a new host though, often creatures with tissue soaked in adrenaline and a large (vacant) cranial cavity in which to dwell.

If allowed to reach full maturity they can take over the latter host's body and will completely, often finding a career in banks, law or marina admin.

The reproductive cycle is really something, you should see how they implant their seed in oyster beds! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[dulcibella]

Is a "parvosite" the opposite of a megasite, are are we talking parasites?

 

[Channel Ribs]

Parvo as in parvovirus, these parasitic organisms are so small in the primary life cycle that they can infest even the smallest multi-celled creatures.

Honestly. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif