SAN DIEGO (KGTV)--For the past decade, a list of the top 10 new species has been identified by the folks at the International Institute for Species Exploration in New York.
Today the Scripps Institute of Oceanography was proud to announce it's discovery of a marine worm made the list
It's the Xenoturbella churro. X. churro for short and, that's right, it's named after the beloved, delicious Mexican treat -- the warm, sweet churro.
"Its standout feature is that it looks a lot like a churro, the fried pastry dusted with cinnamon and sugar popular in Spain, Latin America, and at Costco food courts everywhere," the institute said in a news release.
(Yes, it really said that Costco is known for churros)
There's a problem though. That worm does not look like a churro.
Here's a photo of some real churros:
Here's a photo of the x. churro:
Apparently Scripps biologist Greg Rouse is responsible for naming the worm that some have commented looks a lot more like a chile relleno without the sauce, a deflated football, or a smooshed purple banana peel. Our newsroom colleagues have vivid imaginations.
"I was trying to think of the name for it," Rouse recalled, when Jose Carvajal, one of his staff, saw the video of the worm and casually remarked, "Wow, that looks like a churro!"
Since the species had been discovered off the coast of Mexico in the Gulf of California, it seemed appropriate... to them.
So, tell us what you think: Does the x. churro worm look like an actual churro?
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
