Wow, just, um, wow.
From the BBC</a](http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4200000/newsid_4209000/4209004.stm">BBC</a)>.
I’m going to go brush and give my tongue a once over.
That’s just bizarre.
I just did my own mini research and I found this page, with a disturbing picture of the parasite and fish:
http://www.bogleech.com/bio-para.html
It says the fish actually uses the bug as a tongue, too…
IT’S ALL CALIFORNIA’S FAULT!!!
(I just wanted to be the first to jump on the bandwagon.)
Nature can be truly repulsive!
Never kiss a fish.
Indeed. I am worried for my poor Susan.
OMG! 
And Cran’s link is… well… wow hardly suffices… ugh!
I’m going to go brush and give my tongue a once over.
Make sure it’s really your tongue.
Tony
That critter is an isopod, in the same group as the sow bugs and pill bugs or roly-polys (here are the two most common species; http://www.cirrusimage.com/isopoda_sow_bug.htm ) I know this because I’m in school studying entomology, so I know my arthropods. I was working in the U of Idaho entomological museum and at one point was unofficially declared the local isopod taxonomist. I’ve seen that critter before in an article in Discover magazine. I did a search on isopods to find a web site on isopods to share with all of you, only to find a good site with someone familiar there with the other isopods; http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Isopoda&contgroup=Peracarida . It’s official; we have ourselves a tongue eating, parasitic, sea living sow bug!
Rod
May you live in interesting times…
Chinese curse
Uh-oh, I get the feeling that tree of life site is going to seriously impact my productivity over the next few days.
While looking up isopod stuff, I found another odd crustacean; http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN377 . I’d heard of terrestrial amphipods being found in the Southern Hemisphere, but I didn’t realize North America has some adaptable enough to be lawn pests!
Rod
Now you see why parasitology is not such a good occupational choice for young ladies wishing to attract dates . . .
:roll:
I presume you are not afraid of bugs.
The other night my friend Kimberly and I were sitting on the benches outside and a large praying mantis landed about five feet in front of us. She was shocked that such a big thing could fly and would land so close to people. I got up and lifted it off the ground and was walking toward her and she freaked out. It then occured to me that she was afraid of bugs.
I don’t know why people fear them. They’re sooooo cute.
I like praying mantisss as well. My favorites.
I like how they’re so big. They’re the biggest insect around these parts, I think.
When I see some of the fossils of the giant dragonflies that had wingspans of multiple feet, I wish they were still alive. It would be so cool to walk outside and see them buzzing around…
all bugs freak me out.
except these:
Why are male ladybugs not called gentlemenbugs?