Unknown Organisms Found in US Lakes! Resemble Soft, Brain-like Shapes: Local Residents in Panic

Recently, residents of Oklahoma, USA, have been thrown into a state of panic over several photographs.

Someone discovered a large number of unidentified organisms in local lakes, and based on photos circulating online, these organisms resemble dinosaur eggs, appearing hard on the outside but jelly-like on the inside. These egg-shaped organisms are scattered throughout the lake in various ways: Some of them float directly in shallow water areas, with densely packed spots on their surface, resembling the uneven texture of a brain. Some of them are several oval-shaped entities strung together, which at first glance, look a bit like swollen, stinky sugar-coated haws soaked in water, while others think they resemble plastic bags hanging on submerged tree branches, and there are many such entities. After the sightings were exposed, they quickly caused a lot of chaos and panic on the internet, with netizens letting their imaginations run wild: "They look like alien eggs from outer space." "My son believes these unidentified creatures are flesh-eating monsters that will come to devour us once they hatch." "These creatures are definitely multiplying; last time I looked, they weren't this big or this many!" In short, amidst the panic, there are more netizens insisting on extraterrestrial theories, while some speculate that this could be the American version of the "Tai Sui". The American version of the 'Year Beast'?

To quell the panic, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation quickly stepped in to debunk the rumors, stating clearly that these were not alien creatures but rather moss animals. And what's more, these critters are expected to proliferate even further in the coming times!

Interestingly, a similar case of mistaken identity occurred in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, in 2023.

A farmer named Xu Guisheng found three unidentified organisms in his own pond. They were blob-like, jelly-like, varying in size, with different shades, and had patterns on their surfaces. When touched, they felt soft to the touch. Everyone around him thought he hit the jackpot, believing that these three flesh-like organisms were "Tai Sui," a celestial entity in Chinese culture associated with good fortune and blessings.

His family was overjoyed as well. After all, Tai Sui was considered immensely valuable, and here he was, stumbling upon three of them. They carefully placed these three organisms in water to nurture them.

To ascertain the identity of these mysterious creatures, he even hired experts for examination. The results, however, came as a surprise. The experts determined that these three unidentified organisms were not Tai Sui but rather moss animals, an ancient and primitive form of life. From a scientific perspective, what exactly are moss animals?

Moss animals, scientifically known as bryozoans, are ancient organisms that first appeared around 470 million years ago, even predating dinosaurs.

Although they resemble moss plants in appearance, moss animals are fundamentally animals, possessing a complete digestive system, placing them within the animal kingdom.

Individually, they are quite small, typically only around 0.5 millimeters in size, but they prefer to live in colonies.

The mass you may have observed actually contains thousands of moss animals. They secrete a gelatinous substance, allowing them to stick together, often attaching themselves to underwater branches or rocks, where they live sessile lives. They rely on their tentacles to capture food from the water, primarily plankton and algae. Moss animals mostly inhabit marine environments, with a few found in freshwater.

In freshwater, moss animals are hermaphrodites, capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction.

When different moss animals aggregate, they exhibit various shapes, such as spherical, reticulate, foliate, or dendritic.

Occasionally, if a part of the colony detaches, it can independently develop into a new colony through asexual reproduction.

Observations suggest that moss animals appearing in freshwater in the United States are seasonal, emerging in spring, peaking in summer and autumn, and disappearing in winter, as their optimal growth temperature ranges between 25 to 28 degrees Celsius. Comparison between Slime Molds and Water Bears:

In essence, slime molds and water bears may share a gelatinous appearance, but they differ significantly in several aspects.

1. Distinctive Properties:

   • Slime molds are aggregates of animals, whereas water bears, or tardigrades, are complex organisms in their own right.
   • While slime molds are composed of gathered animals, tardigrades are a mix of substances, including slime molds, fungi, and bacteria.
   • Fundamentally, tardigrades do not fit neatly into categories like animals, plants, or fungi; they inhabit a space between the animal and plant kingdoms.

2. Varied Physical Characteristics:

   • While both can inhabit water environments, tardigrades are more commonly found in soil depths and beneath layers of decomposing leaves, thriving on organic matter.
   • While they both exhibit a jelly-like consistency, their cross-sections differ noticeably, with tardigrades displaying meat-like textures.
   • Moreover, slime molds often feature distinctive spotted patterns on their surface, contributing to their distinct appearance.

• Market value differs; In our country, the Taishui is highly valued, also known as the meat Ganoderma. Its growth is extremely slow and it's very rare, hence the high value of Taishui, which can reach millions. Of course, its miraculous effects are considered exaggerated. After testing, scientists found that Taishui indeed contains various nutrients, but it's not recommended for consumption because this wild Taishui is prone to carrying harmful substances like bacteria and pathogens. On the other hand, although the moss worm is non-toxic and commonly found, there are currently no cases of people eating it. Finally, Many people believe that the presence of moss worms in water bodies is a sign of poor water quality. But in fact, it's quite the opposite. Moss worms have specific requirements for their aquatic environment; they thrive in oxygen-rich waters with abundant algae and clean water. Moreover, their filter-feeding habits contribute to water purification. Therefore, they are indicators of good environmental quality and clear water sources!