Residents of Drake Beach in Northern California were horrified to find thousands of the marine creatures known as "fat innkeeper worms" (Urechis caupo) washed up on the shore. Although many were traumatized by their appearance, the worms are actually common along the West coast of North America but most are unaware of their existence because the creatures spend their lives buried under the sand in U-shaped burrows. Recent storms in the area created stronger than normal waves, which washed several feet of sand away from the shore, exposing the tubes and bringing the worms to the surface.
Penis fish have actually been around for about 300 million years, according to marine biologists. The worm pumps water into its burrow by waves of muscle contractions running down its body and exists by consuming plankton which it traps in its "slime nets". While the worms are very popular in Asia and considered a delicacy, Americans aren't as open-minded about their consumption - or their existence, for that matter.
Nature Magazine's social post described them best "Next time you go to the beach, just think about the hundreds of 10-inch, pink sausages wiggling around just a few feet under the sand."