The Giant worm That Turned into a Worldwide Superstar

A giant sea worm that was responsible for virtually destroying a living reef display at Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium has become an unlikely international phenomenon.

Barry, the four-foot-long reef worm, hit the headlines after he was identified as the mysterious culprit who had been eating through a fragle living coral.

News of his exploits quickly spread around the world with stories appearing as far afield as America, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Spain and Switzerland.

His story featured in the Washington Post, on Canada's Discovery Channel and in scientific blogs worldwide.

Such has been the response that fans have now set up no fewer than four seperate Facebook sites and he has even inspired an American rabbi to write a poem about him.

Blue Reef manager David Waines said: "To be honest I am a little dumbfounded by the response we've had from around the world.

"One PHD student in Australia is actually planning a visit to the UK next year just to meet him and we have been inundated with enquiries and requests for interviews.

"Initially we were planning to keep barry off display because, frankly, we felt he was just too disgusting.  However due to public demand we have now set him up his very own - coral free - display where he appears to be thriving.

"Although he's not for the squeamish, he is strangely fascinating - his skin has this incredible iridescence and he is a kind of force of nature which you have to respect.

"We're feeding him on an algal based gel combined with the odd bit of whiting and, as far as anyone can tell, he appears to be perfectly happy," he added.

In addition to having two sets of powerful jaws, Barry is covered with thousands of bristles which are capable of inflicting a sting resulting in permanent numbness.

It's believed he probably arrived at the aquarium as a juvenile in a shipment of living rock from another aquarium.