Peanut worm

  peanut worm

Among the curiouser dwellers of our dwindling natural shores is a worm-like animal that for obscure and inscrutable reasons draws the attraction of my duck. The common name for these things is peanut worm, on account of the kernel-like ridges on their skin, but it seems the moniker duck worm would be more appropriate, for no other reason *ahem* other than the fact that the creatures were once so abundant locally that they were harvested and fed to waterfowl. This specimen was found on the sandy flats of Cyrene Reef during a Teamseagrass survey.

I also just learnt from this book that the animals are still collected and even cultured as food in Southern China (where else?), where the worm is cleaned and braised over a slow fire to make "peanut worm jelly". Served in a little handleless cup with chilli, mustard sauce or vinegar, this gelatinous delicacy is said to have a "crunchy consistency" (this blogger gives a highly personal account) and is a must-try specialty of Xiamen.

  peanut worm head

Peanut worms have a phylum to themselves – Sipuncula. There are about 320 species, with some resembling sea cucumbers and others sprouting potatoes. All are marine, living in burrows under mud or sand, although some hide in empty shells or even bore holes into rock. They actually have a brain, which is certainly an overkill as it shouldn't take much juice to feed on detritius in the substrate or filter out organic particle from the water. Worse, the most remarkable part of their anatomy is a long reversible front portion known as the introvert. This organ, at the tip of which lies the mouth, is extended for feeding and burrowing, and when retracted, the body of the worm becomes turgid. Tis' a hard life indeed for a soft and ducky worm...

Comments

[Mable]

Hi Budak,

I saw a man digging for these worms in Bintan. Took several photos and took a video of how he caught these worms. Now I know what these worms are called.Two of the pictures are here.

http://flowersinsingapore.com/Albums3/bintanTrip0607/bintan094.html

[stella]

They eat these in the Philippines too, in the province of Sorsogon. Locals there think it's an aprodisiac.