Tongue Isopods
Jan 2, 2015 20:37:59 #
A while ago, there were some very nice pictures of some California isopods that are often seen in Tidepools. Some of these types of creatures can also be parasitic to fish. Here are two shots of some clown fish from Lembeh in Indonesia. Inside the first fish's mouth you can see two eyes of the isopod that has eaten away the tongue of the fish and now takes its place. Apparently the isopod allows the fish to eat more or less normally but there must be some discomfort for in the second picture you can see the clownfish actually sucking on an anemome tentacle. These tentacles can sting quite badly (they can kill small fish) so it appears that the fish was trying to use the tentacle to sting the isopod (or maybe it was just itchy).
Bill
Bill
Jan 2, 2015 20:50:01 #
Jan 3, 2015 05:31:47 #
What little horrors, I understand the female attacks the tongue and the male lives in the gills just behind her. Parasitic animals I just do not like. Very nice photos though.
Jan 4, 2015 11:55:39 #
Jan 4, 2015 13:24:47 #
We have a larger variety of Tiger perch here that have a very high percentage of these parasites compared to other species. When they are out of the water for a little bit, the parasite will come crawling out. Parasites, by nature, always creep me out.
Excellent captures :thumbup:
Excellent captures :thumbup:
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