12 Mind-Blowing Deep-Sea Creatures You Won’t Believe Exist

11. Proboscis Worm: Ribbon Predator with a Hidden Spear

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Proboscis Worms, or ribbon worms, inhabit everything from tide pools to abyssal plains, some stretching 6.5 feet (2 meters). Their hallmark is a muscular proboscis that can dart out, sometimes armed with a venomous stylet, to snare crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. Capable of regenerating lost parts, they oxygenate and mix sediments while hunting, influencing benthic health. Their toxins and biomechanics are inspiring new research in medicine and engineering.