You've probably heard tons of stories about invasive species wreaking havoc on their new homes, but this seriously has to be one of the freakiest.
The New Guinea flatworm has made its way to Miami, Florida, and officials believe it got here via international shipping container. While it may look innocuous enough, these little guys can actually be harmful to animals and humans! These things have quite the reputation for giving their invaded homes hell, and now that they're in the U.S., people have reason to be cautious.
As it turns out, the New Guinea flatworm secretes a toxin that can actually corrode human flesh. To really up the nasty factor, that toxin is released in their vomit.
Because they feed on rodents, they can also pass along lungworm infections that humans can catch if they come into contact with mouse or rat droppings.
The threat in Florida is so real that wildlife officials have actually launched an investigation to figure out where they're located and what their habits are to keep people and animals out of harm's way at all costs.
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