17 May
20:43
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Tongue Eating Louse (Cymothoa exigua) A pair of ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) are hosts to the tongue eating louse. The parasite enters the fish through its gills where they extract blood from the tongue. It then replaces the atrophied tongue, attaching its own body to the stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ. Image: © William Tan

Tongue Eating Louse (Cymothoa exigua)

A pair of ocellaris clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) are hosts to the tongue eating louse. The parasite enters the fish through its gills where they extract blood from the tongue. It then replaces the atrophied tongue, attaching its own body to the stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ.

Image: © William Tan

#tongue eating louse      #parasite      #science      #clownfish      #nemo      #trauma      #marine      #biology      #commensalism      #fish     
  1. grovemarineanimals reblogged this from ichthyologist and added:
    Animalia Arthropoda Crustacea Malacostraca Isopoda Cymothoidae Cymothoa C. exigua These parasites literally...
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  14. carbonlocked reblogged this from ichthyologist and added:
    The tongue-eating louse fascinates me. I am sure it hurts...drained and atrophied,...
  15. girlscoutofthedevil reblogged this from ichthyologist and added:
    Why is nature so cool?
  16. roawrm reblogged this from ichthyologist and added:
    abklfgfghfhgh o god
  17. ichthyologist posted this