By Zoe Moffatt

Darwin fishos are called on to take photographs or collect samples of the ‘worm of death’ for scientific research as the wet season arrives, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory said.

MAGNT curator of fishes Dr Michael Hammer said the worm of death is a type of worm goby that lives in Territory estuaries and river mouths, and earns its name from its thin golden-pinkish body with “vicious large fangs”.

“Top End anglers can become citizen scientists to help find out more about these mysterious fishes,” he said.

“If fishos accidentally lure a worm of death, photos or donations of specimens to MAGNT can help advance scientific knowledge.”

Fisherman Phil Hall made NT News headlines in 2016 when he was the second recorded person to catch to worm of death and uncover it as a new worm goby specie.

Mr Hall had reeled in the worm of death in the Darwin Harbour in 2010 and told the NT News, “It was snapping quite aggressively at our fingers when we were unhooking it.”

“Hence we gave it the name worm of death!” he said.

New species are still being discovered and Territorians can help MAGNT with their research on Northern Territory’s water biodiversity, Dr Hammer said.

“Worm gobies are difficult to catch with traditional research equipment under the muddy silt,” Dr Hammer said.

He said MAGNT samples include gobies with beards, small black eyes, blind gobies and scaleless ones and the gobies are between 5-30 cm long and have also earnt the name ‘Freaky Fish,’ ‘alien’ or ‘deep sea monster,’ he said.

The gobies are known to live underground with poor eyesight but have heighten sensory features to make up this, he said. With around 2000 species, they are one of the most diverse fish families.

Fishos are encouraged to call 8999 8264 or email info@magnt.net.au if they catch a worm goby.