I had one goal in mind for this episode: to be nibbled on by my subject. After reading stories about Excirolana chiltoni – flesh-eating sand piranhas – I traveled south from San Francisco to film them on the beach near Santa Barbara. Lemme tell you: They did not disappoint. These “mini sharks” are tiny crustaceans that prowl the beach year-round. They stay submerged in the wet sand until they detect tasty protein like a dead fish or a human toe … like mine! They especially love the softer skin on our ankles and calves, which is easier for them to bite into, scientists think. That bite is painful. It feels like the nick of a razor blade – sharp, then stinging. Find out more about these curious critters and how to keep them from ruining your winter vacay in our video and this week’s newsletter.
Known as sand piranhas, Excirolana chiltoni are tiny crustaceans that nibble at your feet – and draw blood – if you hang out on the wet sand at the beach. They live on the Pacific coast of the U.S. and Canada, and the shorelines of Japan.
Sand piranhas know how to dig. They survive the crashing waves along the shoreline by burrowing into wet sand very fast!
💀They travel in small groups and have been known to swarm around dead animals.
⛱️They have sand-colored camouflage that’s easy to miss at the beach.
🌊Sand piranhas live in the swash zone, where sand is washed over by waves.
🔪They dig into their meal with tools straight out of a horror movie! They've got hooks on their legs to hold on to you, two sharp mandibles to scrape at their meal, and scary-looking limbs called maxillipeds to sweep food into their mouths.
💉 Their bite hurts! They don’t inject you with anesthetic to ease your pain like mosquitoes do.
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Name That Critter!
This small marine flatworm is referred to as a “plant-animal'' because it has a partnership with photosynthetic algae that live inside it. What is it? Find the answer at the bottom of this newsletter.
EVENTS
Science Is A Piece of Cake: Forest Ecology
Join us on December 18 at 7 p.m. at KQED headquarters for “Science Is a Piece of Cake: Forest Ecology,” co-presented by the California Academy of Sciences. Experience the beauty of California’s forests through cake! Hosted by KQED Check, Please! producer Cecilia Phillips, this event features a cake bake-off where bakers will create cakes inspired by trees and their ecosystems, showcasing the rich biodiversity of our forests.
KQED Climate Book Club: Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Ministry for the Future"
Join us on December 18 at 5:30 p.m. at KQED headquarters for an engaging discussion with acclaimed author Kim Stanley Robinson and KQED journalist Danielle Venton about his novel The Ministry for the Future. The novel examines the economic system that has contributed to the ongoing environmental crisis and explores potential solutions. This event is open to everyone, whether you’ve read the book or just want to listen and learn.
Become a DEEP LOOK Patreon member today and go behind the scenes with the team! Plus, you’ll get DEEP LOOK swag like this mug. We also have a special weevil pint glass, T-shirts, stickers and more. So help us with our mission to give everyone a deeper understanding of science and nature, especially the living organisms too small to easily see with the naked eye. Just like out in the wild, everyone has a role to play.
Acoel! Acoels (pronounced A-seals) are tiny marine flatworms that hunt for prey like planktonic plants and animals that float in the water near coral reefs. But their real superpower is their ability to regenerate any part of their body!
