Thursday March 03, 2011 at 21:22

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Photo

isopod: mabelmoments: The crustacean Cymothoa exigua has the dubious and unsettling honor of being the only parasite known to replace an organ. It enters through the gills of the spotted rose snapper, attaching to the base of the fish’s tongue, where it drinks its blood. The bloodsucking causes the tongue to eventually wither away, at which point the crustacean attaches itself to the tongue stub, acting as the fish’s tongue from then on. The 10 Most Diabolical and Disgusting Parasites I’ve posted about this parasite before but I just saw this picture and had to have it. It’s an isopod!

isopod:

mabelmoments:

The crustacean Cymothoa exigua has the dubious and unsettling honor of being the only parasite known to replace an organ. It enters through the gills of the spotted rose snapper, attaching to the base of the fish’s tongue, where it drinks its blood. The bloodsucking causes the tongue to eventually wither away, at which point the crustacean attaches itself to the tongue stub, acting as the fish’s tongue from then on.

The 10 Most Diabolical and Disgusting Parasites

I’ve posted about this parasite before but I just saw this picture and had to have it.

It’s an isopod!

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