Castrating The Whelk

March 1, 2013 10:12 AM

It turns out that there are several species of trematode that castrate their sad little gastropod hosts.
posted by Vibrissa (28 comments total)

ok, where is he?
posted by Reasonably Everything Happens at 10:13 AM on March 1 [19 favorites]

Having a ball?
posted by plinth at 10:15 AM on March 1 [3 favorites]

I've got the wire-stripper, a fifth of vodka, a live alligator and some Pine-Sol, let's get this over with.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:22 AM on March 1 [20 favorites]

Very pretty, but don't be fooled. These slow little sea snails are actually predators! They just predate on the only thing slower than they are: clams. While a sea snail moves slowly, a clam moves not at all.

Au contraire! Some clams are actually really good swimmers.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:25 AM on March 1 [1 favorite]

This will not end whelk.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 10:29 AM on March 1 [6 favorites]

I think there will be at least one set of MeFite nightmares tonight.
posted by Malor at 10:30 AM on March 1 [1 favorite]

Is it Whelk season again already?
posted by Cash4Lead at 10:37 AM on March 1

ok, where is he?


Hiding.



Understandably.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:41 AM on March 1 [8 favorites]

The nematode preys on the common whelk. I would argue that Metafilter's Whelk is exceptional therefore needn't worry about nematodes shrinking his penis, probably.
posted by maryr at 10:43 AM on March 1 [3 favorites]

So Mr. T actually ate their balls?
posted by steveminutillo at 10:45 AM on March 1 [3 favorites]

probably


I would reccommend a nematode-proof codpiece, just because I wanted to say "codpiece" in case.
posted by louche mustachio at 10:47 AM on March 1 [6 favorites]

I understand that some posters may have disagreed with the WOTW thread, but this is going too far.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:58 AM on March 1

ok, where is he?

Waiting for the ball to drop.
posted by jimmythefish at 11:00 AM on March 1 [3 favorites]

This is one time when the whelk had best keep his post to himself.
posted by kinnakeet at 11:03 AM on March 1 [2 favorites]

"nematode-proof codpiece" would be a fine user name.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:09 AM on March 1 [1 favorite]

"nematode-proof codpiece" would be a fine user name.

Username? Hell, add a "Jr." and it also works well for the odd baby name thread from day before yesterday.
posted by mosk at 11:13 AM on March 1 [3 favorites]

Nematode-proof cod piece.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 11:14 AM on March 1 [10 favorites]

Piece with proof of cod nematode.
posted by Kabanos at 11:18 AM on March 1 [2 favorites]

Oh sure, when the whelk gets castrated and a swan gets turned into terrine, everyone thinks it's all fun and games.

But the tide will turn, people. The tide will turn.
posted by orange swan at 11:20 AM on March 1 [6 favorites]

you have no idea the amount of side-eye I'm giving you people right now
posted by The Whelk at 12:05 PM on March 1 [81 favorites]

I'm glad you showed up--I was getting worried!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:11 PM on March 1

This is getting weird.
posted by slogger at 12:14 PM on March 1

I thought we were going to surprise him guys.
posted by orme at 12:16 PM on March 1 [5 favorites]

This is the kind of meta meta metafiltering I LOVE.
posted by kurosawa's pal at 2:40 PM on March 1 [4 favorites]

Right! Team Bravo, get him from behind while he's distracted, like we practiced! Omega, Charley, Alpha teams - grab the kit bags, the nematodes, and the vodka!
posted by strixus at 4:54 PM on March 1

But no, not the Mefite. You stare at him, and he just stares right back. And that's when the attack comes. Not from the front, but from the side, from the other two Mefites you didn't even know were there.
posted by arcticseal at 7:16 PM on March 1 [1 favorite]

Bollocks.
posted by homunculus at 8:41 PM on March 1

Look over there TW - A Bleu Cheese Martini! Dull thudding sound
posted by lalochezia at 9:59 PM on March 1