Urechis unicinctus facts for kids

The Urechis unicinctus, also called the fat innkeeper or garloid, is a type of marine spoon worm. It lives in the ocean waters of East Asia. You can find it in the Bohai Gulf near China, and along the coasts of Korea and Hokkaido, Japan.

This spoon worm is related to Urechis caupo, which lives on the west coast of North America. Both worms share similar common names. The Urechis unicinctus is usually 10 to 30 centimeters (about 4 to 12 inches) long. It has a round, tube-like body that is yellowish-brown. Its skin has many small bumps called papillae.

What is a Fat Innkeeper Worm?

Where do Fat Innkeeper Worms Live?

The fat innkeeper worm is a marine animal. This means it lives in the ocean. It makes its home in the soft sand and mud at the bottom of the sea. It digs a special U-shaped tunnel or burrow.

How do Fat Innkeeper Worms Eat?

These worms are detritivores. This means they eat detritus, which is tiny bits of dead plants and animals. Think of it like eating crumbs and tiny leftovers from the ocean floor.

The worm has a special way of catching its food. It uses a ring of glands near its mouth, called a proboscis, to make a sticky slime, or mucus. This mucus sticks to the inside of its burrow. As the worm moves backward, it keeps making more mucus, creating a net.

Then, the worm uses its body to pump water through its burrow. Tiny food particles in the water get stuck in the mucus net. Once the net has enough food, the worm moves forward and swallows the whole net with the food. It can repeat this process many times, especially if there is a lot of food around.

Why do Fat Innkeeper Worms Wash Up on Beaches?

Sometimes, many fat innkeeper worms are found washed up on beaches in Japan. Scientists are still studying why this happens. One idea is that strong sea storms can push them onto the shore. Another idea is that they swim at night to reproduce, which might make them more likely to get stranded on the beach.

How are Fat Innkeeper Worms Used?

Fat Innkeeper Worms as Food

In Korea, people often eat these worms. They are sometimes eaten raw with salt and sesame oil or a spicy paste called gochujang. You can find them sold in markets in Korea, Hokkaido, and along the Pacific coast.

In Chinese cooking, the worm is used in different ways. It can be stir-fried with vegetables. It is also dried and ground into a powder. This powder is used to add a savory flavor, called umami, to dishes.

Fat Innkeeper Worms as Fishing Bait

Besides being food for humans, the fat innkeeper worm is also used as fishing bait. Fishermen use them to catch fish like flounder and sea bream.

Images for kids

• Urechis unicinctus
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  Urechis unicinctus (Hangul: 개불; RR: gaebul) sold at a fish market at Busan, South Korea.

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  Urechis unicinctus served as hoe in a restaurant in South Korea.

See also

In Spanish: Urechis unicinctus para niños