# Tongue zombie **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 23, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737 "2013-06-23T23:01:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/1 "2013-06-23T23:01:44Z")
[Cymothoa exigua: tongue zombie](http://beestingbrose.blogspot.com/2010/01/cymothoa-exigua-tongue-zombie.html) Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it! 'Hiya! 🙂 ’ From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua): > [@](#): > > _Cymothoa exigua_ 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. It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish. Once _C. 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. There are many species of _Cymothoa,_ but only _C. exigua_ is known to consume and replace its host’s tongue. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/2 "2013-06-24T00:13:52Z")
Well, I’m sufficiently squicked for the week; thanks! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/3 "2013-06-24T00:20:47Z")
Tongue got your catfish? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/4 "2013-06-24T00:31:15Z")
It sits in that fishes mouth like it’s on a stage. “HI! Howyadoin!” ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/5 "2013-06-24T00:39:45Z")
Egad man, another nightmare creator. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/6 "2013-06-24T01:30:19Z")
Just stopped in to add: > **[Tongue Parasites](https://nadlembehresort.wordpress.com/2012/02/11/tongue-parasites/)** > > As already mentioned in previous blog posts there are many parasites here in Lembeh Strait that for example stick on the head or cheek of fishes. Another very common type of parasite is the tongue … UR WLCM! lulz ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/7 "2013-06-24T03:03:39Z")
I learned about that on [The Colbert Report](http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/257752/december-07-2009/craziest-f--king-thing-i-ve-ever-heard---tongue-eating-parasite). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/8 "2013-06-24T03:11:50Z")
I love that smug, self-satisfied look on its face . . . knowing the fish can’t do a damned thing about it. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/9 "2013-06-24T04:31:11Z")
I really don’t want to know how they reproduce. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/10 "2013-06-24T04:44:51Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I really don’t want to know how they reproduce. Oral sex. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/11 "2013-06-24T08:25:19Z")
I’m thinking we could learn a thing or 2 about prosthetics from this guy. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/12 "2013-06-24T14:02:18Z")
Be sure to check out [the movie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bay_%28film%29) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/13 "2013-06-24T14:21:39Z")
One of nature’s more tasteless parasites. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/14 "2013-06-24T18:33:00Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > I really don’t want to know how they reproduce. [Click here for even more gross information](http://laughingsquid.com/cymothoa-exigua-sex-changing-tongue-eating-parasites/) > [@](#): > > The strange crustaceans feed on the fish’s tongue, and can even change sex and breed in the fish’s mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/15 "2013-06-24T19:10:59Z")
There was a party in my mouth last night…everybody came. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/16 "2013-06-25T16:34:36Z")
You think that parasites bad? Check out cordyceps. It’s a fungus that enters the brains of arthropods (ants are a popular choice,) and _modifies their behavior_ so they crawl to a better location for the fungus, at which point the fungus “finishes the job,” and sprouts from the ant. [![](https://i.imgur.com/BLwGUvr.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/BLwGUvr.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/17 "2013-06-25T16:37:21Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Tongue got your catfish? A+ ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/18 "2013-06-25T17:56:09Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > You think that parasites bad? Check out cordyceps. It’s a fungus that enters the brains of arthropods (ants are a popular choice,) and _modifies their behavior_ so they crawl to a better location for the fungus, at which point the fungus “finishes the job,” and sprouts from the ant. > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/BLwGUvr.jpg) Holy shit. Now _that_ would be a scary movie, putting the creators of _Alien_ to shame. It would be wonderful if mood and other mental disorders were found to derive from a parasite. I think. Subject for a different thread. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/19 "2013-06-25T18:01:55Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Cymothoa exigua: tongue zombie](http://beestingbrose.blogspot.com/2010/01/cymothoa-exigua-tongue-zombie.html) > > Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it! 'Hiya! 🙂 ’ > > From [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua): Great photo, and thanks for the subsequent posts on it. So what the hell is this host relationship termed? It’s not symbiotic, because I don’t see the fish getting anything more out of it. On the other hand, it’s not losing anything but its previous diet, and the new one is not detrimental. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737/20 "2013-06-25T18:03:41Z")
Well, host no longer has to maintain a healthy tongue. Or worry about a bunch of tongue parasites. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tongue-zombie/661737.md?page=2)