This is a ribbon #worm (Nemertea). 🪱 It lacks specialized gills and instead respires through the surface of its skin. | Science Channel

Watch: This predatory worm hides in the ocean floor and pops out to ambush its prey. | National Geographic

The ribbon worm belongs to the phylum Nemertea and is known for its long, ribbon like body and a hidden weapon most animals never see. The white branching structure visible here is its proboscis, a feeding tube normally stored inside the body and rapidly fired outward to capture prey. Seeing it fully extended is rare and offers a glimpse into how unusual these creatures really are. Ribbon worms live in marine, freshwater, and even damp terrestrial environments, often tucked beneath rocks, sand,