Giant predatory worms are invading France — and nobody noticed for almost 2 decades

business insider ^ | 23 May 2018 | Jeremy Berke

[a fool in paradise]

Kind of hard to miss, I'd think.

#HowEiffel

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks a fool in paradise. Uh-oh.

[AdmSmith]

This will be a problem:

The potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) is known from a diverse array of taxa, but is unknown in terrestrial invertebrates. Tetrodotoxin is a low molecular weight compound that acts by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, inducing paralysis. However, the origins and ecological functions of TTX in most taxa remain mysterious. Here, we show that TTX is present in two species of terrestrial flatworm (Bipalium adventitium and Bipalium kewense) using a competitive inhibition enzymatic immunoassay to quantify the toxin and high phase liquid chromatography to confirm the presence. We also investigated the distribution of TTX throughout the bodies of the flatworms and provide evidence suggesting that TTX is used during predation to subdue large prey items. We also show that the egg capsules of B. adventitium have TTX, indicating a further role in defense. These data suggest a potential route for TTX bioaccumulation in terrestrial systems.

Bipalium adventitium and Bipalium kewense are terrestrial flatworms invasive to the United States from southeastern Asia.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4070999/

[Candor7]

Well done. The Diet of Worms reconvened would solve the problem. Certainly Lutherans would see some sense if they all went to Worms.

[Berosus]

Are the worms too big for robins to handle? Here in Kentucky we have robins all over the place, but they still don’t catch the worms that crawl into my basement.

[DUMBGRUNT]

Will it be the undocumented pharma developers vs the isis JV team?

One is looking to increase sales of ‘designer drugs’, the other wants to kill everyone.

And the flatheads want to take over the sewers of Paris.

Also avalible in color!!!
https://media.eol.org/content/2015/04/22/10/90838_orig.jpg

[AdmSmith]

Thanks that is a very nice picture and the color signals that it is toxic:

[VeniVidiVici]

Ya, they used to be called “GERMANS” but know they are called “LIBERALS”.