Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

The Guardian - UK

Environment

Patrick Barkham

Stuff of nightmares? Meet the bootlace worm – super-long, super-elastic, and it fires toxic slime

a very long bootlace worm — The bootlace worm can stretch out longer than an Olympic swimming pool, but usually measures 15 metres. Illustration: Petra Korlević/The Guardian

It’s the shuddery stuff of nightmares for some, but for a select group who admire extending ladders, giraffes and the Odyssey, one of the longest animals in the world is bound to appeal.

This creature is nneither the blue whale, nor a lion’s mane jellyfish but the humble bootlace worm, Lineus longissimus, one of the most remarkable marine invertebrates of them all.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

2 people killed, including a student, after Florida school bus rolls over in crash

2 people killed, including a student, after Florida school bus rolls over in crash

Florida bus crash: A tragic accident occurred in Winter Haven when a school bus was hit by an oncoming car. The bus carried nearly 40 people, including students and the driver. Following the crash, a student and the driver of another vehicle were reported dead. Emergency responders transported 26 students…

The Economic Times

Student protests erupt at Cornell over mishandling of gang-rape allegations

Student protests erupt at Cornell over mishandling of gang-rape allegations

Hall housing Michael Kotlikoff’s office spray painted as demonstrators demand resignation of college president

The Guardian - US

Teen gunned down after entering gated community to look for phone, but the person who shot him will avoid jail

Teen gunned down after entering gated community to look for phone, but the person who shot him will avoid jail

Heitor Amaral was allegedly unarmed, but the shooter claimed self-defense.

We Got This Covered

Nicaragua torture victim imprisoned for second time after being deported by U.S.

Nicaragua torture victim imprisoned for second time after being deported by U.S.

A Nicaraguan exile who was imprisoned and tortured after protesting against that country's government was deported by the U.S. back to his country, where he was immediately imprisoned once again by authorities

The Independent UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Jalapeño Salmonella Outbreak Ends at 488 Illnesses in 34 States with FDA Unable to Find the Contamination Route

Jalapeño Salmonella Outbreak Ends at 488 Illnesses in 34 States with FDA Unable to Find the Contamination Route

The jalapeño Salmonella outbreak is over after 488 illnesses in 34 states, but the FDA could not find how the imported peppers were contaminated.

Ken Paxton is trailing in the Texas Senate race. Then a secret recording exposes who is actually running his campaign: ‘I don’t control the message’

Ken Paxton is trailing in the Texas Senate race. Then a secret recording exposes who is actually running his campaign: ‘I don’t control the message’

"It’s all coming—you know—from D.C."

We Got This Covered

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

2 people killed, including a student, after Florida school bus rolls over in crash

2 people killed, including a student, after Florida school bus rolls over in crash

Florida bus crash: A tragic accident occurred in Winter Haven when a school bus was hit by an oncoming car. The bus carried nearly 40 people, including students and the driver. Following the crash, a student and the driver of another vehicle were reported dead. Emergency responders transported 26 students…

The Economic Times

Student protests erupt at Cornell over mishandling of gang-rape allegations

Student protests erupt at Cornell over mishandling of gang-rape allegations

Hall housing Michael Kotlikoff’s office spray painted as demonstrators demand resignation of college president

The Guardian - US

Teen gunned down after entering gated community to look for phone, but the person who shot him will avoid jail

Teen gunned down after entering gated community to look for phone, but the person who shot him will avoid jail

Heitor Amaral was allegedly unarmed, but the shooter claimed self-defense.

We Got This Covered

Nicaragua torture victim imprisoned for second time after being deported by U.S.

Nicaragua torture victim imprisoned for second time after being deported by U.S.

A Nicaraguan exile who was imprisoned and tortured after protesting against that country's government was deported by the U.S. back to his country, where he was immediately imprisoned once again by authorities

The Independent UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Jalapeño Salmonella Outbreak Ends at 488 Illnesses in 34 States with FDA Unable to Find the Contamination Route

Jalapeño Salmonella Outbreak Ends at 488 Illnesses in 34 States with FDA Unable to Find the Contamination Route

The jalapeño Salmonella outbreak is over after 488 illnesses in 34 states, but the FDA could not find how the imported peppers were contaminated.

Ken Paxton is trailing in the Texas Senate race. Then a secret recording exposes who is actually running his campaign: ‘I don’t control the message’

Ken Paxton is trailing in the Texas Senate race. Then a secret recording exposes who is actually running his campaign: ‘I don’t control the message’

"It’s all coming—you know—from D.C."

We Got This Covered

Our Picks

More Than 37,000 Squishy Toys Recalled as Water Beads Inside Can Swell in a Child and Evade X-Rays

About 37,480 squishy toys with water beads are recalled. Learn the warning signs of ingestion and why X-rays may miss swallowed beads.

Is Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken Actually Healthy? Here’s What to Check on the Label

A grocery store rotisserie chicken can make dinner easier without the cost of takeout or the work of cooking from scratch. It provides protein and can be used in salads, sandwiches, soups, and family meals throughout the week. However, not every rotisserie chicken has the same nutritional profile. Some contain…

Grocery Coupon Guide

Why Are Eggs Refrigerated in America but Left on the Shelf in Other Countries?

Walk into a grocery store in the United States, and you will find eggs in a refrigerated section. Visit many European grocery stores, however, and eggs may sit on ordinary shelves at room temperature. This difference often surprises American travelers who wonder why the same food requires different storage methods.…

Grocery Coupon Guide

Kim Kardashian Reveals Five Nannies for Four Kids as Kanye West and Bianca Censori Step Out in Los Angeles

Kanye West and Bianca Censori were seen with Playboi Carti at ComplexCon in Los Angeles, shortly after Kim Kardashian discussed raising their four children and using five nannies.

International Business Times UK

Woman says a male canvasser knocked at her door and wanted to talk pro-life. Then she asked him: ‘Have you ever been pregnant?’

She explained why she is pro-choice.

We Got This Covered

Doing Everything Right but Still Have Dull Skin? Here’s Why

If this sounds familiar, it doesn't necessarily mean your skincare routine is bad. Healthy-looking skin depends on much more than the products sitting on your bathroom shelf. Dead skin-cell buildup, dehydration, sun exposure, irritation, lifestyle factors and even using too many active ingredients can all affect how your skin looks.…

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play