You might want to think twice before scheduling a trip to the beach in South Carolina because swarms of four-eyed, hook-jawed sea worms have been spotted along the South Carolina coast, and yes, they can bite.
The marine worms have jaws that are strong enough to break human skin and may clamp their pincer-like jaws onto a finger or hand, they are often used as bait.
Clam worms, sometimes called ragworms, tend to keep a low profile on the sea bed most of the year, but in spring they “undergo an incredible transformation under new and full moons” called epitoky, according to SCDNR.
.png "Screenshot (542).png")
The newly formed epitokes rush up to shallow coastal waters to take part in a fast-paced, reproductive free-for-all and die shortly after the reproduction process is complete.
“This fascinating phenomenon occurs every year at our marine headquarters in Charleston and is often followed by hungry throngs of fish and birds along the marsh edge,” the post said.
Good thing officials say this is no cause for alarm, but rather an annual event that signifies the start of spring for some in Charleston, South Carolina, and other coastal cities.
On paper, these clam worms may seem terrifying: carnivorous animals with hook-shaped jaws that can bite and pierce human skin.
But in reality, they’re very small — less than 1 inch long — and would only bite someone as a way to defend themselves, said Erin Weeks with the marine resources division of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
“They’re very similar to ants,” Weeks said. “They have jaws to defend themselves if need be, so we wouldn’t recommend anyone mess with them. But they’re really not interested in humans.”
Typically, these worms emerge when the water temperatures are still cold, so it’s unlikely that any swimmers are out in the water when they swarm, Weeks said.
And the frenzies usually last just a few days. The one seen in the video is already over, she added.
Earlier this week, a visitor to Hunting Island State Park found an epitoke and was baffled by the discovery.
“What sea creature is this?” she asked in a Facebook post. “In the water at Hunting Island… Lots of them!” “It’s the epitoke section of a polychaete. Basically, a free-swimming section that the worm grows, that then breaks free and goes out to reproduce,” a South Carolina park ranger responded, adding “they are harmless!”
Harmless or not, the idea of sea worms darting and wriggling around in the water left some worried about their upcoming Hunting Island vacations.
Watch it here: TheSupreAdventures/Youtube
Sources: Deepstaterabbithole, ABC13
