Terrifying Parasitic Method: Lamprey Swimmers Eat Fish Tongues, Replacing Them
Lamprey swimmer, also known as tongue-eating louse or tongue-sucker, is a parasitic crustacean that some foreign scientists also call Betta parasite. Lamprey swimmer mainly parasitizes bony fish, mostly saltwater fish, and a few freshwater fish.
The parasitic way of lamprey swimmer is a bit scary, it will eat the tongue of the fish it parasitizes, then replace it with its own, becoming a new ‘fish tongue’, and live with the fish for the rest of its life. The fish it parasitizes has no defense or resistance and can only passively accept it.
Lamprey swimmer adults have a body length of about 3 to 4 cm, and their bodies are covered with a hard shell. Their abdomen has two rows of small claws, and the ends of these claws are equipped with hooks, and the body tail is fan-shaped. Lamprey swimmer is closely related to the common sea cockroaches that crawl between reefs in the seaside.
Lamprey swimmer mainly parasitizes inside the fish, and their growth and reproduction are unique. Their larvae will initially attach to the gills of the fish, and in the early stage, they will grow into male individuals; after maturity, they will transform into females. They will complete mating on the gills of the fish. (The Betta swimmer genus is usually male-first hermaphroditic, male-first hermaphroditic). After the female individual enters the fish through the gills, it will use the claws with hooks to tightly grasp the fish’s tongue and continuously suck blood, until the fish’s tongue is completely atrophy. In this way, the lamprey swimmer completely occupies the position of the fish tongue, and its main body also takes on the responsibility of the fish tongue, and lives together with the fish.
Lamprey swimmer still feeds on the fish’s blood in the late parasitic process, but more is to absorb the mucus secreted by the fish. This was the first time that scientists discovered a parasitic way that could completely replace the host organ.
Betta swimmer species are usually male-first hermaphroditic, female worms release hormones, these hormones stimulate male individuals to secrete more male hormones, so that they can extend their time as males, thus achieving hermaphroditic reproduction and offspring breeding.
Lamprey swimmer's harm to fish, in addition to eating fish tongues, it can also cause damage to the host fish tissue, anemia, weight loss, prevent fish from growing, and reduce fish's lifespan. They spread quickly in fish-dense waters. According to foreign media reports, about half of the sea bream are infected with this parasite in some Mediterranean seas. Although this parasite does not pose a threat to humans, it is a disaster for fish reproduction.
