Cymothoa exigua
From Freepedia
| Cymothoa exigua | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Cymothoa exigua (Schioedte & Meinert, 1884) |
Cymothoa exigua is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cymothoidae. This parasite attaches itself to the tongue of Spotted Rose Snapper fish (Lutjanus guttatus), feasting on the blood from the artery under the tongue. Eventually the organ atrophies from lack of blood, and the parasite replaces the fish's tongue with its own body. It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish. Once C. exigua replaces the tongue, it supplements its diet with food particles, thereby relieving strain on the host's circulatory system.
External links
- Parasitic crustacean tongue replacement, Everything2.com
- Tongue-eating bug found in fish, BBC
- Australian Museum
- Guide to the Coastal Isopods of California
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