Animals that don't Exist

The Chocolate Worm

The chocolate worm, Lombrix chocolata, was historically found exclusively in Switzerland, but has since spread over most of western Europe. Unlike its name indicates, the chocolate worm does not feed on chocolate, but mainly on milk. It got its appellation when the swiss first started making and exporting milk chocolate, which, in some cases, contained the worm. People from neighbouring countries, having never encountered the creature before, thought it must be there because of the chocolate, and called it chocolate worm.

Apart from this story, there is really not much to say about the chocolate worm. It is neither of particular form or shape, nor does it have any biological or chemical properties that make it in any way significantly different from its peers. But despite its mundane appearance, it almost caused a premature end to the blooming chocolate indusrty of Switzerland.

Because of these events, the swiss have nominated the chocolate worm enemy of the state, and they hold yearly worm-culling festivals, were milk and milk-products are inspected carefully for any trace of the bugger. Some say this is just and excuse to sample all the different milk-products made in Switzterland, a theory that is corroborated by the fact that the swiss usually end up very drunk on these occasions. But, officially at least, it is all about the worm