This parasite enters through the gills, and then attaches itself at the base of the spotted rose snapper’s (Lutjanus guttatus) tongue. It extracts blood through the claws on its front, causing the tongue to atrophy from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish’s tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish.Text via Wikipedia. Image credit Dr. Nico Smit, via Tai Tran's Reading Archive.
Addendum: Video of the parasite is here.
holy shit that is the most repulsive parasite ever.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else immediately think of the Alien movies?
ReplyDeleteThat fish has upper teeth that appear human ... photoshop much?
ReplyDeleteI've seen this before, and could have waited many years before seeing it again. I agree with Felix.
ReplyDeleteWow, quite possibly one of the most disturbing things I have seen in quite some time
ReplyDelete