The Bobbit worm is named after THAT Bobbit. PIC: BBC

Blue Planet 2's third episode was a thing of spectacular beauty, but also the stuff of nightmares.

Delving into the world's coral reefs the hit BBC show, narrated by David Attenborough, brought us terrifying foot long carnivorous worms, sharks, and, most horrifying of all, plastic which is invading the dying reefs thanks to humans and our ignorant ways.

It wasn't alll doom and gloom, however. Before Attenborough told us off for putting the fate of the earth under threat, we got to meet the clown fish working together, the octopus and grouper fish and their bromance, and the turkfish using his tools.

Here's what we learned.

Yes, the Bobbit worm is called after Lorena Bobbitt

In 1993 Lorena Bobbitt cut off her husband John's penis with a knife. It was later reattached. The Bobbit worm has razor sharp spring loaded jaws to catch their prey.

Stuff of nightmares.

Yes, the Bobbit worm is named after THAT Bobbit #BluePlanet2 — BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 12, 2017

So it turns out Tremors are real and all my childhood nightmares are true #bobbit #BluePlanet2 #BluePlanet — Lucy Jones (@MissFool) November 12, 2017

Teamwork is big on the reefs

We could learn a thing or two from these guys.

Forget the other Christmas ads the octopus and the grouper fish is the best story this year #BluePlanet2 — jason harrold (@jason_harrold) November 12, 2017

The octopus and grouper working together is astounding, particularly given that the fish has to recognise the octopus whatever colour and shape it changes to. #BluePlanet2 https://t.co/11JzvjvUna — Jack Ashby (@JackDAshby) November 12, 2017

If a group of clown fish can push a coconut to create a house you can handle tomorrow #BluePlanet2 — TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) November 12, 2017

No, youâre crying watching the fish working together to move the coconut shell #BluePlanet2 — Declan Cashin (@Tweet_Dec) November 12, 2017

Corals are breathtaking and we're killing them

A rise of 1 or 2 degrees for just a few weeks can cause corals to lose their plant-like cells and 'bleach'#BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/ydRQ5jwB79 — BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 12, 2017

âIn recent years, itâs thought that half the worldâs coral reefs have been affected by bleaching.â 😢 #BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/HzERzvlPyA — BBC One (@BBCOne) November 12, 2017

Almost half of the worlds corals have bleached. Why? Because a raise in temperature of between 1 and 2 degrees will cause it. #ClimateChange is warming the oceans acidifying the oceans. #BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/G1IYFPyN2Y — Daniel Schneider (@BiologistDan) November 13, 2017

Our mindless use of plastic has a horrifying impact

did anyone else feel a great sadness when that plastic water bottle came drifting in? what are we doing to this world 🌎😔 #BluePlanet2 — â𝕙𝕝𝕠𝕖 â𝕚𝕔𝕙 (@ceeepr) November 12, 2017

Shockingly, it is estimated that more than 50% of marine turtles have eaten plastic debris or other rubbish #BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/6a7GNIvn9d — WWF UK 🌏 (@wwf_uk) November 12, 2017

70% of our planet is made up of water; there's soo much to explore but we should be ashamed that a plastic bottle made it onto #BluePlanet2 — 🗣 Mark Thompson (@_MarkOnLife) November 12, 2017

If we all do just one little thing to help, it would make a massive difference. Next time you buy a toothbrush, get a bamboo one instead of plastic. Use paper straws instead of plastic. Use non-plastic cotton buds. Do SOMETHING! #BluePlanet2 #plasticfree — Neville's Knitwear (@Falafel_McFly) November 12, 2017

The #BluePlanet2 team collected every piece of plastic they came across while filming. — BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 12, 2017

David Attenborough may be God

If God exists I suspect he may well be #DavidAttenborough! He knows and cares so much about our planet. Inspirational. #BluePlanet2 #BluePlanet 💙🐟 pic.twitter.com/w2GJk5Uu3P — Paul Dunphy Esquire 🏳ï¸â🌈 (@pauldunphy) November 12, 2017

âWhat humans do over the next 50 years will determine the fate of all life on the planet.â



[Sir David Attenborough]#BluePlanet#BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/VJp29N9Bdp — Dr Lauren Gavaghan (@DancingTheMind) November 12, 2017

If there is anything more distressing than listening to David Attenborough telling us in hushed tones that we have fucked up the planet, then I don't want to hear it. #BluePlanet2 — Emily Cottrell (@EmilyA_Cottrell) November 12, 2017

Blue Planet 2 continues on BBC One on Sunday nights.

Online Editors