#cymothoidae

[snototter]

A Clark's anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) infested by a tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua) in Indonesia

by Christian Gloor

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Louse got your tongue? No, it's the tongue-eating louse! As its name implies, this isopod is a parasite of fish; females latch onto a fish's tongue and cut off the blood vessels until the tongue falls off completely. The female tongue-eating louse then takes the place of the tongue, helping itself to any food that the fish might eat, as well as mucus produced in the fish's mouth.

(Image: A tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua) resting on a fish's head by Marco Vinci)

Bonus image under the cut of a tongue-eating louse living up to its name!

(Image: A saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) carrying a tongue-biter isopod parasite (Cymothoa exigua) by Mike Veitch)

[hyenaswine]

parasites are great, we love parasites. but i had 3 of these fucking things attached to my skin when i exited the ocean & i can't ID them. there could be more in other crevices that i won't discover until i get back to my hotel. the germaphobic & parasite-loving halves of me are fightingggggg

[animalids]

Tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa sp.)

Photo by Arthur Anker

[animalids]

Orange isopod (Renocila bollandi)

Photo by Shawn Miller

[ladylhompson]

Oh god... This thing literally eats tongues.