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scythemantis — Cymothoa exigua
Published: 2010-03-23 10:26:16 +0000 UTC; Views: 15572; Favourites: 127; Downloads: 4983
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SHIRT: [link]BUTTON: [link]
Convenient fact: The same amount of money goes to me whether you buy a button or a shirt!
A parasitic Crustacean in the same order as woodlice and pillbugs (or sowbugs and roly-polies), Cymothoa exigua is the only parasite that effectively replaces a body part of its host. As it drains blood from the tongue of a fish, the original tongue shrinks away while the fish manipulates the parasite as a new appendage. This amazing animal was even featured on the Colbert Report, though it was mistakenly referred to as a fish itself! Visit bogleech.com for more parasites, monsters and weirdness.
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Comments: 32
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there was a claim that they found a head of one of these in a can of tuna.... however, they found out it was the head of a funky little crab.
people found the little crab less disturbing.
great drawing.
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We want to commission a similar fish concept. Do you do commissions? We'll look at your profile to see, so if you don't, we'll figure it out on our own. T'anks for creating such a fun art piece! 
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We hope all is well, bro. 
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Aw sorry a whole lot has happened over the past month or so! You can email me at bogleech@hotmail.com, that might work better!
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Same here. (Even back when you wrote to me.) I hope things have gotten better. I think I emailed you. If not, lemme know, and I'll try again. I'm in school full time, so I may not be able to get back to you in a reasonable amount of time. Either way, I hope you're rising above whatever you've been going through. 8^)
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No problem, brother. We know how life throws curves and disruptions at our feet while we're blindfolded and running...also.
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So how do we commission pieces from you? Tell us how you want to work it. We have a site, LA-Zen.com - and we'll eventually get our public access show and/or YouTube channel up and running again, and we'll need the talents of fun and freaky creative types such as yourself.
BUT(T) we have to deal with Kiki's darn cancer crapola (and in Malaysia of all places *UGHz*), so we'll be tied down with that for a bit. I'm American, and Kiki's Indonesian, and we're here while she attends a scholarship. BUT(T) I CAN WAIT TO RETURN TO THE STATES AND TEAR UP THE PLACE WITH HER!
...
Anypoo, let us know when you'll have an open schedule -and the rest of the details - and we'll go from there.
Ciao for now, 
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Yay, I'm not the only one who for some reason finds this critter unexplainable adorable. Thanks for drawing this!
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They have cute little beady black eyes and they live in fish mouths, they're whimsical
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"Legend tells us that the true Chosen One will bear the mark of infinite wisdom..."
*this drawing*
"What in God's name is that thing?"
"He seems to be the reason I'm pursued. There are so many things I've yet to understand."
"Does it have a name?"
"Tonguey."
"I should not have asked."
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I have no idea how you make such revolting things look so CUTE. But bravo, anyway!
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thank you for making my nightmares just that much cuter.
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[link]
This is what happens when Cymothoa exigua decides to work with humans.
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Nope, still a parasite, since its presence doesn't benefit the fish in any way. It would be better off with its real tongue than a tongue that sucks its blood, of course. The parasite functions as the new tongue only because it needs its host to still eat for two.
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Man, you are a master at balancing creepy and cute.
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Stevie Colbert talked about it? WHY WAS I NOT THERE? Oh yeah, and I repeat my previous statement. QUIT. BEING. SO. FUDGING. AWESOME.
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Oh my god it's soooo cuuuuute. Lookit it's little :3 faaace
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LOL its nice to see that i'm not the only one that draws the parasite tongue as well, very nice to see your style and this. great work
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Aww, it has puppy eyes.
Normally I wouldn't want a parasite to eat my tongue off, but that face is making it hard to resist.
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I read the popular science book PARASITES! years ago and was astonished. This is one of those particular creatures that just made me wonder whether God, if such exists, has the personality of a mad scientist at times. Kudos for this comic presentation of nature's oddities!
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Ah, one of those little guys. We call them "sea lice" where I live.
Nasty little suckers. But I think you made it kinda cute.
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All arthropods are cute to me
There are lots of different sea lice, but only this one becomes a tongue! There's another that lives in the *other* end of a fish...
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The other end? Too much information there...
I got bitten by a sea lice (louse?) once. Stung a bit.
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