WebCymothoa exigua. Cymothoa exigua, or the tongue-eating louse, is a parasitic isopod of the family Cymothoidae. It enters fish through the gills. The female attaches to the … WebSep 8, 2024 · Mermaid gills probably aren't attached to their tongues. Despite its name, the tongue-eating louse doesn't actually eat tongues. It replaces them, after the tongue falls off as a result of the parasite cutting off the tongue's blood supply after they enter the body through the gills.
Cymothoa exigua parasite Discover Wildlife
WebFeb 28, 2013 · The males just hang out around the gills of the fish and then–yep–mate with the pseudo-tongue. This discovery led me to wonder about the latest research about tongue-eating isopods. I WebDec 14, 2024 · Juvenile Cymothoa exigua (which is not a louse at all but a type of isopod) are free-floating swimmers which look for gills of specific types of fish, latch on, and enter the body. There, they ... boynton west shopping center
The tongue-eating louse does exactly what its name …
WebAug 15, 2024 · Tongue-eating lice, a type of isopod parasite, typically enter fish through its gills. When it latches itself onto the fish’s tongue, he told CNN , it feeds on the tongue’s … WebCymothoa exigua, or the tongue-eating louse, is a parasitic isopod of the family Cymothoidae. It enters fish through the gills and the female attaches to the tongue, with the male attaching on the gill arches beneath and behind the female. Females are 8–29 mm (0.3–1.1 in) long and 4–14 mm (0.16–0.55 in) wide. Can isopod parasites infect humans? WebFeb 28, 2013 · Meet the tongue-eating isopod, Cymothoa exigua. This marine parasite feasts on a fish's tongue and then becomes its tongue. You'll never eat seafood again. Transcript Credits Major... boynton west surgical management