some type of adult girl

bogleech:

rhamphotheca:

BFFs!!! - Tongue-eating louse (Cymothoa exigua)

This parasite has an innovative way of feeding itself – it replaces the tongue of certain fish species! It 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 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. Isn’t nature amazing!

(photo: RachaelB - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/17299278)

This is a mated pair, the large one is the female :)

There may be more males deeper in the fish. If the female dies, the “front” male we see here will change sex, and one of the back-up males will become her mate in the fish’s mouth.

Let’s think about this a little while, and then go laugh at some of the attempts at “alien” races in movies and video games.

(via blessphemy)