The bobbit worm, Eunice aphroditois, is famous for ambushing prey with powerful, extendable jaws.
This large marine bristle worm usually buries most of its body in sand or soft seabed sediment, leaving only its sensory region exposed. When a fish or other animal passes close enough, the worm can shoot its jaws upward, seize the prey, and pull it beneath the sediment. Its hidden lifestyle makes it difficult to observe in the wild.
Bobbit worms belong to the polychaetes, a diverse group of segmented marine worms whose bodies carry many bristles called chaetae. They are not true earthworms and do not have a rigid external skeleton. Their long bodies can reach several metres, although reported maximum lengths vary and are difficult to verify.
The common name refers to the 1993 case involving Lorena and John Wayne Bobbitt, because of the worm's dramatic cutting jaws. The name is sensational but does not describe a special taxonomic group. Eunice aphroditois is a predator, and it may also scavenge when opportunities arise.