(April 2) - Staff at a British aquarium have captured a massive sea worm that had been terrorizing other aquatic life.
For months, the 4-foot-long creature -- which staffers call "Barry" -- had been devastating coral reef at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium, the Daily Mail newspaper reported Tuesday. The menacing monster also apparently injured a Tang fish.
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Giant Creatures
World's Tallest Dog: The harlequin Great Dane has to make do without one of his giant legs. Gibson, photographed here with his owner in 2005, is battling bone cancer and veterinarians had to amputate his right front limb. The dog, who lives in Grass Valley, Calif., is a certified therapy dog and is expected to return to work visiting ill patients and veterans.
Sophia Hall / AP
Sophia Hall / AP
Initially, aquarium workers weren't sure what was harming the coral, which in some cases was cut in half. After weeks with no clues, they decided to take the display apart to see if they could find the culprit, the Mail reported.
Workers laid bait traps, which were mysteriously destroyed in the night, as the glutton apparently devoured the fish hooks right along with the bait. Finally, staffers spotted the tropical worm, which bit through a 20-pound fishing line before staffers were able to successfully remove it from the tank.
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The creature is covered with nasty bristles that sting and can cause permanent numbness in humans, the newspaper said.
"Tt really does look like something out of a horror movie," Matt Slater, the aquarium's curator, told the Mail. "It's over 4 feet long with these bizarre-looking jaws."
Slater said he suspects Barry arrived as a baby in a shipment from another aquarium. The worm now lives in his own tank.
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Animals in the News
Chanel, a white dachshund who held the Guinness world record for oldest dog, died Aug. 28 at age 21. Earlier this year, her owners said she was in good health, with the exception of sunglasses she had to wear for cataracts.
Meredith Daniels, Newsday / MCT
Meredith Daniels, Newsday / MCT
