Cymothoa exigua, or the tongue-eating louse, is a parasitic isopod that severs the blood vessels in a fish’s tongue, causing the tongue to fall off. It then attaches itself to the remaining stub of tongue and the parasite itself effectively serves as the fish’s new “tongue”
That’s nightmare fuel
Those things are so bizarre. They latch onto the fish’s mouth, severs the vein to its tongue so the tongue falls off, and the parasite becomes the new tongue. Apparently the fish functions just fine with its parasitic tongue.
I mean, if the fish didn’t survive, the parasite wouldn’t get easy meals for life, haha.
Nature is very metal.
This is a pretty extreme example of acting like you belong somewhere and hoping no one will notice
I think you’re lost. This belong in c/terrifyingasfuck
Thanks, I didn’t really need to sleep tonight.
That’s enough internet for today
But can the fish feel it wriggle around?
All the ones I’ve asked have had nothing to say about it.
Can you imagine if this happened with humans? Wonder no more! https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_bay_2012
Welfare Queen Louise riding around in its new fish, getting free food and stuff.
Get the flamer brother! The heavy flamer!
This is a ridiculously convoluted survival plan.
I’d expect something like this from Charlie on IASIP
I’m weird, but I think they’re actually kind of cute.
Pretty sure I caught a fish with one of these once, was absolutely disgusted to find it as I was removing the hook.
Was it moving?
No it appeared dead
This is honestly shit for both of them, sure getting your tongue eaten probably isn’t great but could you imagine if your whole life was just pretending to be a tongue living inside a fish’s mouth??
nope
Does Lemmy have a don’t put your dick in that community yet?
