Worm with Spider-Man powers shoots out spreading glue from its head

Scientists studying similar worms found that they build up the goo in a reservoir in their head, and then shoot it out at extremely high pressure

Cameras have caught apparent footage of a worm shooting out a horrifying material from its head, which seems to have horrifying powers.

The video claims to show a worm gearing up and then unleashing the materials from its face, before it spreads out like tendrils across the man’s hand.

Some have said that the material is likely the worm's proboscis, or a kind of long nose. The caption says the animal is a ribbon worm, which can shoot out its proboscis from a hole above its mouth to capture prey.

(The man, who has apparently got hold of the worm willingly, does not appeared too alarmed by the spreading material.)

In similar worms that have been scientifically studied, the creatures generate a kind of biological glue that is stored in a reservoir behind their heads. That’s then forced through a narrow barrel, building up pressure and then shooting it out at speed.

While it’s unclear whether the footage is entirely real — and, if it is, what kind of worm is depicted — there are plenty of verified worms that can also expel huge globs of glue.

Last month, the New Scientist reported that the sticky web shot out by worms to create new technology. The worms build up huge pressure and then throw it out, at 25 times the speed that could be produced using muscles.

The technology could one day be used to improve inkjet printers and ways of delivering drugs, a scientist working on the project to record the worms in slow motion. The glue itself could also be used to ensnare people or stick wounds together, scientists have suggested.