Tongue Eating Parasite

[Syn]

I gagged when I read this.. but it's so cool/weird!

http://twistedsifter.com/2009/09/tongue-eating-parasite/

Certainly one of the more disgusting species I’ve come across, the Cymothoa exigua or Tongue eating louse (louse being singular form of ‘lice’) is a parasitic crustacean that typically grows to 3 or 4 cm in length (1 in - 1.6 in). The parasite attaches itself at the base of a fish’s tongue entering the fish’s mouth through its gills.

It then proceeds to extract blood through the claws on its front three pairs of legs. As the parasite grows, less and less blood reaches the tongue and eventually the organ atrophies. 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 and it appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish. Once the insect replaces the tongue, it can feed on the host’s blood and/or feed on the fish’s mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ, making it a scientific marvel and poster-child for repulsion.

 

[meganm85]

ewwww!!! gross and interesting...

 

[Vegas Chad]

Where the crap do you find all this stuff... Now that is just freeking nasty, hands down.

 

[jessica]

LOL that is bizzare! What a righteous parasite!

 

[Syn]

Where the crap do you find all this stuff... Now that is just freeking nasty, hands down.

It just comes to me.. MWAHAHAHA-*cough* I mean, Google?

 

[ijmccollum]

Will be a long time till I eat sushi again -- that's nasty!

 

[pssh]

Wow, that parasite is a beast. It kind of looks like a demon dubia that just molted...

 

[james L]

Ive seen fish get some weird parasites, but thats a new one for me.

 

[chameleonman57]

That was amazing, thanks for sharing that story.

 

[DGray]

Syn, you are a wonder.

That louse is vile.

Did anyone find out how they mate?

 

[Syn]

Syn, you are a wonder.

That louse is vile.

Did anyone find out how they mate?

French kissing?

 

[bugboy]

Where the crap do you find all this stuff... Now that is just freeking nasty, hands down.

he's right though!!! you always seem to come up with all of the craziest, funniest, grossest &#!% on the internet!

 

[Cjd713]

It just comes to me.. MWAHAHAHA-*cough* I mean, Google?

Yeah, because all the normal people I know log on Google daily and type in something along the lines of 'small bloodsucking mucus eating parasite living on the tongues of host fish.' lol
It was pretty cool though XD

 

[serenitystarlite]

That is the grossest thing I've ever seen. Pretty cool though. But gross. Ew.

 

[Syn]

Y'all are quite welcome!

 

[Lizardboy76]

Make's me want to Puke

 

[JennyBug]

Can it be transferred to humans? I can think of a few people I would like to have a tongue eating parasite

 

[Syn]

Can it be transferred to humans? I can think of a few people I would like to have a tongue eating parasite

Try it out and let me know..