18-Foot Long Oarfish Was Filled With Parasites

An 18-foot-long oarfish found dead in Southern California was filled with parasites, according to researchers at UC Santa Barbara who dissected the serpent-like fish last Thursday. Around two dozen larval tapeworms, two young roundworms, and little pieces of an adult spiny-headed worm were among the specimens found in a small tissue sample of the intestines. Scientists only had a foot of intestine, so it's likely that the whole organ hosted many more parasites, possibly hundreds, zoology profess...