Freaky Science: Parasitic Tongue

This thumb-sized sea louse (Cymothoa exigua) crawls in through a red snapper’s gills and latches on to its tongue, sucking it dry.

It seems to be a freaky week in science…today – just now, in fact – I learned about this sea louse that latches on to a red snapper’s tongue and then proceeds to suck it dry:

Cymothoa exigua for example, one of the more fascinating and horrific parasitic monsters I got to write about last week. This thumb-sized sea louse crawls in through a red snapper’s gills and latches on to its tongue — which it then sucks dry like some nightmare flavor of Capri Sun.

At this point, the parasite latches on to the remaining stump left behind by the host’s atrophied tongue and, yep, becomes the fish’s new tongue. When the fish opens its mouth to feed, the louse reaches out to scoop in the grub, while apparently taking a few mouthfuls for itself.

The rest of the article can be read here: The Parasite That Wanted to be a Tongue

Fascinating but horrific stuff. I mean, I really feel I should be feeling grossed out by now and maybe my appetite gone (no, I’m not eating as of writing this post or thinking of doing so – I ate before I read about this nasty little parasite :P), but instead I’m just intrigued now; with only the remotest feeling of horror: the kind of feeling where you’re repelled and at the same time can’t help but feel continually interested.

To any out there wondering: No, I am not morbid nor do I indulge morbid interests or fascinations thereof.