The fish tongue-eating louse

sapphoqueen · 11-09-2012, 07:01 PM

The beast has a face!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua

"It is currently believed that C. exigua are not harmful to humans unless picked up alive, in which case they can bite"

Who bites ?

The fish or the beast?

MSG · 11-09-2012, 07:17 PM

That critter looks like a pillbug with sharp fangs for arms/claws.

Darkblade48 · 11-09-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

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.[2] Once C. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host's blood and many others feed on fish mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ

Ewwwwww. But very cool.

angelsword · 11-09-2012, 08:45 PM

Ugh poor fish

kylehca · 11-09-2012, 08:52 PM

That is horrific

sent from my iphone killer

wendyjo · 11-10-2012, 02:35 AM

That's lousy!

ValMM · 11-10-2012, 03:44 AM

It's an interesting symbiotic relationship. Bug acts as tongue, both get fed.

Senior Shrimpo · 11-10-2012, 05:45 AM

Ew that's super gross.... poor fish has no real way of getting it either.

I'm glad us humans have hands!

oliver77 · 11-10-2012, 09:16 AM

it's super gross. first time heard about this louse from the movie "The bay"

**dougolasjr** · 11-10-2012, 11:25 PM

I believe there is a movie that has a picture like that. Its called the Bay.

11-09-2012, 07:01 PM	#1
sapphoqueen Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Japan Posts: 371	The fish tongue-eating louse The beast has a face! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua "It is currently believed that C. exigua are not harmful to humans unless picked up alive, in which case they can bite" Who bites ? The fish or the beast? __________________ Sent from the back of my droid, using sign language 3 HD Last edited by sapphoqueen; 11-09-2012 at 07:06 PM.. Reason: photo

11-09-2012, 07:17 PM	#2
MSG Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Coast Posts: 270	What a nasty looking bugger.... That critter looks like a pillbug with sharp fangs for arms/claws.

11-09-2012, 08:45 PM	#4
angelsword Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 421	Ugh poor fish __________________ Malaysian Trumpet Snails: JUST SAY NO!

11-10-2012, 03:44 AM	#7
ValMM Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oswego, New York Posts: 823	It's an interesting symbiotic relationship. Bug acts as tongue, both get fed. __________________ My roommate says I'll die by giant turtle.

11-10-2012, 11:25 PM	#10
dougolasjr Invert Addict (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 773	I believe there is a movie that has a picture like that. Its called the Bay. __________________ BAMA AGAIN!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!! -Doug

11-09-2012, 08:52 PM	#5
kylehca Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Saskatoon, Canada Posts: 10	That is horrific sent from my iphone killer

11-10-2012, 02:35 AM	#6
wendyjo Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: DC area Posts: 2,815	That's lousy!

11-10-2012, 05:45 AM	#8
Senior Shrimpo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 880	Ew that's super gross.... poor fish has no real way of getting it either. I'm glad us humans have hands!

11-10-2012, 09:16 AM	#9
oliver77 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 93	it's super gross. first time heard about this louse from the movie "The bay"

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