Researchers discover how 'zombie worms' bore into skeletons
(Phys.org) -- In 2002, researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered a unique species of worms in the ocean that live off of the skeletons of dead fish and whales on the sea floor, by boring into them; giving rise to the nick-name, zombie worms. What was perplexing though, was how they managed this trick since they lacked mouths, teeth or even a gut. Closer analysis over the years found that the worms lacked any other means for drilling as well, causing most to believe they made their way into bone material using some sort of chemical process, rather than drilling. Now new research by Sigrid Katz and colleagues from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography proves that to be the case. She and her team are to give a presentation regarding their findings at this years Society for Experimental Biology conference.