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Tongue-Eating Bug Found In Fish
BBC ^ | 9/15/05 | BBC/UK

Posted on 09/15/2005 9:05:23 AM PDT by Dallas59

A gross creature which gobbles up a fish's tongue and then replaces it with its own body has been found in Britain for the first time.

The bug - which has the scientific name cymothoa exigua - was discovered inside the mouth of a red snapper bought from a London fishmonger.

The 3.5cm creature had grabbed onto the fish's tongue and slowly ate away at it until only a stub was left.

It then latched onto the stub and became the fish's "replacement tongue".

Creepy-crawlies Check your bug know-how in our insect quiz Enter

Excited

Scientists are very excited by the find.

Dr Jim Brock of the Horniman Museum in south London told Metro newspaper: "I have not seen this species in all my 13 years at the museum so it's a remarkable find."

What the bug looks like What the bug looks like

The bugs are usually found off the coast of California, so it's possible the fish was imported to the UK.

Freaked out

But don't be too freaked out - scientists say the creature does not pose any threat to humans and only attaches itself to fish tongues.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Food; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: eeewwwwww; fish; tongue
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Yuck.




1 posted on 09/15/2005 9:05:26 AM PDT by Dallas59
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To: Dallas59

Well, thanks for that.


2 posted on 09/15/2005 9:06:56 AM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Dallas59

Ah, so this finally explains Gene Simmons.


3 posted on 09/15/2005 9:06:58 AM PDT by dirtboy (Drool overflowed my buffer...)
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To: Dallas59

Thanks, There goes lunch...


4 posted on 09/15/2005 9:07:36 AM PDT by Quick Shot
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To: Dallas59

THAT explains what happens to the Libs only it gets in their BRAINS as well.


5 posted on 09/15/2005 9:07:39 AM PDT by highlymotivated (If American ever falls, a STINKING LIBERAL will be behind it.)
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To: Dallas59

Sushi!


6 posted on 09/15/2005 9:07:40 AM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: Dallas59

Coming soon to a teenager near you?


7 posted on 09/15/2005 9:08:29 AM PDT by LongElegantLegs (Fines for excess bleeding.)
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To: Dallas59; JimWforBush

Hey Bevis, huh huh he said 'Red Snapper" huh huh huh


8 posted on 09/15/2005 9:08:52 AM PDT by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (People too weak to follow their own dreams, will always find a way to discourage yours.)
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To: Dallas59

9 posted on 09/15/2005 9:09:15 AM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: Dallas59

Order some of these and cater lunch to some Dems someday.


10 posted on 09/15/2005 9:09:27 AM PDT by Mrs. Shawnlaw (Rock beats scissors. Don't run with rocks. NRA)
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To: Dallas59

I can't figure out if this is evidence in favor of or opposed to Intelligent Design.

Ewwwww!


11 posted on 09/15/2005 9:09:52 AM PDT by siunevada
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To: Dallas59
"I have not seen this species in all my 13 years at the museum

Dude, you ain't gonna find any new fish in the museum.

12 posted on 09/15/2005 9:10:19 AM PDT by Fierce Allegiance
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To: Dallas59

"Senator Kennedy? Senator Biden? Your FREE fish dinner is here!"


13 posted on 09/15/2005 9:10:43 AM PDT by pikachu (All problems will be solved by the second term of Persident Schwartzenegger's Administraion!)
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To: Dallas59

I always knew there was a reason I never ate the head of a fish.


14 posted on 09/15/2005 9:10:46 AM PDT by Spunky ("Everyone has a freedom of choice, but not of consequences.")
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To: siunevada
If a hillary tongue eatin subspecies appears then hands down its intelligent design.
15 posted on 09/15/2005 9:13:56 AM PDT by aspiring.hillbilly (!...The Confederate States of America rises again...!)
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To: Dallas59

Is that top picture a close-up of Susan Estrich?


16 posted on 09/15/2005 9:19:05 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Mary Landrieu, just another "New Orleans Lady")
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To: Dallas59

interesting evolution


17 posted on 09/15/2005 9:27:40 AM PDT by Raycpa
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To: Dallas59

After it eats the tongue, what does it do next?..


18 posted on 09/15/2005 9:28:08 AM PDT by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to pass on her gene pool....any volunteers?)
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: pikachu

LOL!


20 posted on 09/15/2005 9:33:02 AM PDT by toldyou
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