It's Barry! Everybody out of the pool!

A gleeful co-worker just dropped this one on me:

Aquarium staff have unearthed a 'giant sea worm' that was attacking coral reef and prize fish.

The 4ft long monster, named Barry, had launched a sustained attack on the reef in a display tank at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium over recent months.

Workers at the Cornwall-based attraction had been left scratching their heads as to why the coral had been left devastated and - in some cases - cut in half.

[...]

...'It really does look like something out of a horror movie. It's over four feet long with these bizarre-looking jaws.

'We also discovered that he is covered with thousands of bristles which are capable of inflicting a sting resulting in permanent numbness.'

Mr Slater said Barry, who has now been relocated to his own tank, probably arrived as a juvenile in a delivery of living rock from another aquarium.

Barry the giant sea worm discovered by aquarium staff after mysterious attacks on coral reef (Daily Mail (UK), 31 March 2009)

My namesake - a polychaete worm - is a very handsome fellow. Click on the Daily Mail story link to see him in all his creepy gorgeousness.