dimitri
01-02-2008, 10:59
Cymothoa exigua - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua)
http://polyscience.org/images/news/2005/louse3.jpg
Cymothoa exigua is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cymothoidae. This parasite attaches itself at the base of the spotted rose snapper's (Lutjanus guttatus) tongue, extracting blood through the claws on its front three pairs of legs. As the parasite grows, less and less blood reaches the tongue, and eventually the organ atrophies from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue, except that it has to share its food with the parasite
http://polyscience.org/images/news/2005/louse1.jpg
http://polyscience.org/images/news/2005/louse2.jpg
http://polyscience.org/images/news/2005/louse3.jpg
Cymothoa exigua is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cymothoidae. This parasite attaches itself at the base of the spotted rose snapper's (Lutjanus guttatus) tongue, extracting blood through the claws on its front three pairs of legs. As the parasite grows, less and less blood reaches the tongue, and eventually the organ atrophies from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue, except that it has to share its food with the parasite
http://polyscience.org/images/news/2005/louse1.jpg
http://polyscience.org/images/news/2005/louse2.jpg