ToffeeMark
Player Valuation: £30m
Don't swallow one of these...
Cymothoa exigua, is a parasitic crustacean. This parasite enters fish through the gills, and then attaches itself at the base of the fish's tongue. It extracts blood through the claws on its front, causing the tongue to atrophy (die) from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. OnceC. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host's blood and many others feed on fish mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ.[SUP]][/SUP] There are many species of Cymothoa,[SUP][3][/SUP] but only C. exigua is known to consume and replace its
Cymothoa exigua, is a parasitic crustacean. This parasite enters fish through the gills, and then attaches itself at the base of the fish's tongue. It extracts blood through the claws on its front, causing the tongue to atrophy (die) from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. OnceC. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host's blood and many others feed on fish mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ.[SUP]][/SUP] There are many species of Cymothoa,[SUP][3][/SUP] but only C. exigua is known to consume and replace its
