'Penis fish' by the thousands wash ashore after heavy storms

Publish date: 2024-05-07

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These saucy-looking sea creatures sure are making a splash.

Thousands of so-called “penis fish” have washed ashore on a beach in Rio Grande, Argentina, shocking locals with their phallic appearance.

The marine life, which is actually a breed of spoon worm officially known as Urechis Unicinctus, was given its naughty nickname due to its striking resemblance to the human penis.

Measuring slightly larger than the average male appendage at 10 inches, the penis fish features a shaft and a large head complete with a hole that looks like a meatus.

While the worms usually live at the bottom of the ocean, they were washed ashore during a large storm that struck the Rio Grande area on Monday.

Photos of the fleshy marine life taken by Rio Grande residents are now being shared across social media.

Thousands of so-called “penis fish” have washed ashore on a beach in Rio Grande, Argentina, shocking locals with their phallic appearance. Jam Press
Photos of the fleshy marine life taken by Rio Grande residents are now being shared across social media. Jam Press

While the penis fish have caused a stir in Argentina, it’s not the first time they’ve stunned beachgoers.

Back in 2019, thousands of the worms appeared on the shore of Drakes Beach near San Francisco following a storm.

Ivan Parr, a biologist from the Western Section of the Wildlife Society, first spotted the sea creatures and claimed that other locals didn’t believe that they were really worms.

“I’ve heard my share of imaginative theories from beachcombers, such as flotsam of a wrecked bratwurst freighter,” he stated at the time.

Measuring slightly larger than the average male appendage at 10 inches, the penis fish features a shaft and a large head complete with a hole that looks like a meatus. Jam Press

Meanwhile, an Australian marine biologist went viral on social media in 2021 after sharing a snap of the penis fish, which prompted several X-rated replies.

“Where do you put the batteries?” joked one user, analogizing the worm to a sex toy.

“Wow some marine animals are going to have fun with that,” another joked.

The sea creature dates back 300 million years and has a life span of about 25 years.

Meanwhile, an Australian marine biologist went viral on social media in 2021 after sharing a snap of the penis fish, which prompted several X-rated replies.

Surprisingly, the penis fish can also be eaten, and are often served up at markets in South Korea, China and Japan.

They are said to have a chewy texture and are surprisingly sweet, often served with a savoury sauce made from sesame oil or vinegar with gochujang.

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