Weird-Looking Animal: Sea Creature With Many Teeth Found in UK River

An unusual sea creature was discovered near the West Wales River. It is a sea lamprey with many teeth that can be found in the Western and Northern Atlantic.

The world's oceans have many weird-looking marine species known and unknown to scientists. The discovery helps scientists to understand more species and help conserve them for possible threats.

Sea lamprey found near the U.K. river

(Photo : MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)
A stock photo of Sea Lamprey. Can you guess this species? A weird-looking sea creature with many teeth was discovered near the West Wales River. They can thrive in freshwater, and they managed to survive major extinction events

In an Instagram post, Craig Evans found the sea creature with many noticeable teeth while he was near the South West Whales. It was a dead sea lamprey, which can be around 340 million years old.

The sea lamprey he found was about a kilo and 2ft in length. The creatures can prey on other fish or algae at sea for food. The disc-shaped suction-looking lamprey can help them to feed.

Evans continued that the sea lamprey could spawn or be found in May or June. They can thrive in freshwater areas. While the species' existence can be short, they are considered a food delicacy in other countries.

According to NOAA Fishers, sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) are also called lamprey eels or vampire fish because of their terrifying teeth.

Furthermore, Evans explained that the presence of sea lampreys can show a healthy sign of the ecosystem.

The Great Lakes Fishery Commission said that sea lampreys are different from other species, with no jaws.

In the 1803s, NOAA explained that sea lampreys caused the decline and collapse of the fishery in the area due to the increasing population.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service noted that sea lampreys survived at least four major extinction events.

More facts about the sea lamprey

According to Minnesota DNR, the species can reach from 12 to 20 inches long. They can become parasitic to target their prey.

If it becomes uncontrolled, the emergence of sea lampreys can harm species, causing possible economic and ecological damage.

To control the population of sea lampreys, traps and lampricides are essential to prevent spawns in a significant river or sea areas.

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Strawberry Feather Star with 20 arms in Antarctica

Recently, researchers discovered a new species with 20 arms, which is called the Antarctica strawberry feather stars (Promachocrinus fragarius).

The study was published in the Invertebrate Systematics. With advanced DNA analysis, the researchers managed to unlock the new species.

It is named after a strawberry fruit as it looks one in a closer look. The species can be related to other aquatic animals, including sea urchins or cucumbers.

The Antarctica strawberry feather stars' arms help the species to move around and look for possible prey.

Mapping the oceans can also unlock other unknown species, as most of the sea is still unexplored.