Urechis unicinctus
| Urechis unicinctus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Urechis unicinctus at a market in Korea. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Annelida |
| Class: | Echiura |
| Family: | Urechidae |
| Genus: | Urechis |
| Species: | U. unicinctus |
| Binomial name | |
| Urechis unicinctus von Drasche, 1881[1] | |
Urechis unicinctus (simplified Chinese: 海肠; traditional Chinese: 海腸; pinyin: hǎicháng; Japanese: 螠虫 or ユムシ yumushi; Hangul: 개불; RR: gaebul) is a species of marine spoon worm. It is widely referred to as the fat innkeeper worm or the penis fish.
Habitat
U. unicinctus, like other Urechis, lives in burrows in sand and mud. It gets the name "fat innkeeper worm" because the tunnels it creates often contain other animals.[2]
Economic use
This spoon worm is commonly eaten raw with salt and sesame oil in Korea.
In Chinese cuisine the worm is stir-fried with vegetables, or dried and powdered to be used as an umami enhancer. In particular, the worm is considered an important ingredient in Shandong cuisine and is used in numerous recipes.
It is also used for fishing bait.
Gallery
- Urechis unicinctus
-
Gaebul sold at a fish market at Busan, South Korea.
-
Urechis unicinctus served as hoe in a restaurant in South Korea.
Notes
- ↑ van der Land, Jacob; Murina, Galina Vansetti (2012). "Urechis unicinctus (von Drasche, 1881)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
- ↑ http://www.elkhornslough.org/sloughlife/inverts/fatinnkeeperworm.htm
Further reading
- 5 Korean foods for adventurous eaters Chincha.co.uk