The Tongue Eating Parasite: Cymothoa Exigua

This Fish has a parasite in its mouth, Meet Cymothoa exigua (tongue-eating louse). This tiny Creature is a parasitic marine isopod that primarily targets Snapper. That enters the fish through the gills. The female attaches to the tongue. While the Male attaches to the gill arches behind the female. They sever the blood vessels in the fish’s tongue, causing it to fall off. Then attach themselves to the remaining stub and ultimately become the fish’s “New Tongue”. Apparently they don’t cause much damage to the host fish feeding on only the host’s blood and mucus without killing its host. But, infected fish are often found underweight, and once the host dies they detach themselves through the oral cavity and what happens next is unknown. Another interesting fact these parasites start their lives as males and switch their sexes later on in their life cycle.

[@tiffany4703]

😮

[@carlosmayoral8477]

A thing of nightmares.

[@WildWisdomTV-hn3hh]

That's the Truth!!