Thousands of ten-inch ‘pennyfish’ wash up on a beach: fishermen rush ashore to grab them all
The fish, known as Eurychis unicinctus, washed up after a storm in Argentina as fishermen flocked to the beach for bait.
Thousands of ten-inch ‘penny fish’ washed up on Argentine beaches in a bizarre incident.
The deadly-looking sea worms, officially known as Eurechis unisictus, line the beaches of Multila, north of the Rio Grande.
The animals washed up on the beach after a heavy storm on Monday afternoon. It’s not a rare occurrence in Argentina that there are piles of marine worms in the south of the country after heavy weather in the past.
Despite their rather unsavory appearance, marine worms are widely sought after in Asia for their medicinal properties.
Local fishermen have since flocked to the beaches to collect ‘linga fish’ as they are considered excellent bait, especially when fishing for the sea.
Thousands of ten-inch ‘pennyfish’ have washed up on Argentine beaches in a bizarre phenomenon that has concerned locals.
Despite their rather unsightly appearance, sea worms are widely sought after in Asia for their medicinal properties.
Locals photographed the nearly ten-inch phallic creature along the coast earlier this week.
Thousands of sea worms previously washed up on a beach in California in 2019, and smaller clusters of sea worms have historically been seen off the coast of Argentina.
The worms prefer to bury themselves in the sand but storms and swells in the ocean can easily dislodge them and land.
Also known as a ‘fat innkeeper worm’, the animals create a U-shaped hole on the sea floor that is left for other animals to enter – hence its moniker.
Fossil evidence has identified that animals have been around for about 300 million years. A single Eurychis unisictus can live up to 25 years.
While some people fish for animals, large fish, sharks, seagulls and otters also fight for prey.
The species has gained particular notoriety in Asia where it is eaten raw due to their high amino acid concentration for their medicinal benefits.
They are usually sold live in the wet market where customers can specifically select one of their choice. Their flavor is described as mild and they offer a similar texture to clams.
The ugly-looking sea worm, officially known as Eurechis unisictus, lined the beaches of Multila, about 15 kilometers (about three miles) north of the Rio Grande city.
A ‘sex fish’ was caught after washing up on a beach in California in 2019.
While most Asian countries have a tradition of eating seaweed raw, some regions of China prefer to dehydrate the animals so they can be preserved for longer periods of time. ‘Pennis Fish’ is rehydrated before being fried.
They are commonly fished in the shallow waters of the China Sea, but are also found in underwater sand tunnels around the world.
Japan also considers the fish a delicacy, pairing it with soy sauce and vinegar for sashimi.
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