Creepy moment bizarre 27-inch-long ‘wrinkle ribbon worm’ that looks disturbingly like human intestine devours a fish whole

• Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium in Japan have four wrinkle ribbon worms  
• The creatures were hidden away since 1991 due to their gruesome appearance 
• But an unexpected craze called kimo-kawaii – meaning gross but cute – has swept Japan, and the sea worms have now been allowed to face the public
• Disturbing footage shows one of the 27-inch-long creatures devouring a fish

This is the creepy moment a gruesome 27-inch-long Antarctic sea beast devoured a dead fish whole.  

Four of the carnivorous ‘wrinkle ribbon worms’ have been in the care of Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan, since 1991. 

But because of their revolting appearance, the creatures had never been exhibited, until an unexpected craze swept the country in 2015. 

Soon Japan was fascinated by all things kimo-kawaii – meaning gross but cute – and the sea worms were allowed to face the public. 

Because of their revolting appearance, the creatures had never been exhibited, until an unexpected craze swept Japan 

Soon Japan was fascinated by all things kimo-kawaii – meaning gross but cute. Video footage shows one of the creatures using the peculiar opening that serves as its mouth to devour a dead fish

Video footage shows one of the creatures using the peculiar opening that serves as its mouth to devour a dead fish. 

Aquarium spokeswoman Chizuru Sato said they had shot to fame in a recent competition to find strange creatures, where they were semi-finalists. 

‘Recently these weird creatures are becoming popular in Japan,’ she said. 

‘Most people did not know this creature before, but thanks to the competition, many people observed them with interest.  

Four of the carnivorous creatures, called wrinkle ribbon worms, have been in the care of Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan, since 1991

‘Their popularity has been increased by being reported in the news.’ 

In many respects, the creatures – a type of nemertean sea-worm – remain a mystery. 

‘How long they live is unknown,’ said Sato. ‘We have been rearing them for over 28 years. 

‘They are thought to be scavengers. They eat any marine products. We mostly feed them on horse mackerel fillets. 

Aquarium staff think their specimens could be in their 40s, though their actual age is impossible to determine

‘They live in the benthic zone of the Southern Ocean, at a depth ranging from 16 to 395 metres. These were collected in the sea around King George Island.’ 

Aquarium staff think their specimens could be in their 40s, though their actual age is impossible to determine. 

Having grown to some 27 inches long each, they are thought to be the longest-lived creatures in the aquarium. 

They mostly lie still in their tanks, but have been observed to consume fish carcasses that fall to the bottom. 

The competition, which was hosted by Tokyo’s Sunshine Aquarium and was decided by public vote, ultimately concluded with humans being named the strangest creatures. 

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