From wired:
Finally, fishermen off the northern coast of France have found a large parasitic isopod (a relative of the louse) that has evolved a rather hideous method for survival in its host: it gets into the fish’s mouth and then devours its tongue. It then attaches itself at the back of the fish’s throat where it presumably feeds of whatever the fish normally eats. The really bizarre part is that the fish doesn’t seem to suffer any ill effects other than the loss of its tongue.
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It does exist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua
Comment by Claire 09.18.09 @ 1:04 pmCymothoa exigua is the real deal, and it’s one of the most repulsive creatures in the world. Those, and botfly, and the candirú fish, about which, the less said, the better.
I prefer sheep and cows.
Comment by Vache Espanol 10.12.09 @ 8:40 pmI recently came across your website with the photo of a parasite in the mouth of a fish. Unfortunately this photo is copyrighted to Nico Smit and does not actually come from France. This particular photo, fish and isopod is from South Africa.
Comment by Kerry 11.03.09 @ 2:52 amLeave a comment
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