Gross Science!

[bloodyrosemccoy]

All together now: GAAAAACK!

The suggestion of critters replacing certain organs, however, with no ill effect on the host except in the sense that suddenly they’ve got some other organism with big gross feet or something acting as a vital organ, is an intriguing sci-fi possibility. And replacing your tongue with a giant horrible crawly thing has all sorts of interesting aspects to explore.* Akin had enough trouble with his tentatongue, and that thing didn’t even have a face.

Once again, nature is a step ahead of sci-fi.


*And some entertaining aspects, too: “Now let’s see why you’re having trouble talking. Open your mouth and say ‘ahhh.’”
“Ahh.”
“YEEEEEEEK!”
“Ih ihh bahd, dokhuh?”

On the plus side, it would make for some great practical jokes on your dentist. Or small rude children who stick their tongues out at you ... Oh, the opportunities are endless.

Comments

[pandoras-closet.livejournal.com]

. . . ah . . . ew . . .

[dark-phoenix54.livejournal.com]

AAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

(stops and takes deep breath)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Seriously, someone should fucking call Torchwood, like, right now.

[neintales.livejournal.com]

Ah yes. I have seen that parasite many a time on the interwebs.

It never ceases to be freaky. AUUUUGH.

Glad I never caught a fish with that as a kid when dad was a boating/fishing nut, I had enough other traumatizations.

[cougarfang.livejournal.com]

Isopods are awesome :D

Especially the giant ones (c.f. this)

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

[sofish-sasha.livejournal.com]

It's like a cross between a xenomorph and a poleepkwa with a bit of Darth Vader thrown in! :D

[skadichan.livejournal.com]

I agree.

[kittikattie.livejournal.com]

AH AH AH EW EW EW ICKY ICKY YUCK YUCK YUCK

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Aw, shit. Forgot not everyone thinks that particular brand of gross = cool. Sorry--shoulda warned you off.

[kittikattie.livejournal.com]

Ah, don't worry. It's fascinating, but my first reaction is OMG WTF THERE IS NO GOD FOR NO GOD WOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN and then after freaking out I go "hehehe cool."

[sofish-sasha.livejournal.com]

To me, the creepiest thing about that photo is the teeth of the fish. They look kinda like human front teeth, don't they? O.O

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

You're definitely not the first to say so.

[daiq.livejournal.com]

What i love about this is when you think "parasite" you think something small, microscopic even - then you look at the photo and realise the isopod in question is almost as large at the fishes head!!! Rock on little isopod (and stay the hell away from me!)

[chibicharibdys.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I've seen these concepts played with in at least one novel and several comics, but damn ... endless possibilities.

Have you seen the zombie-ant-making fungus??? It is equally bizarre and SUPER ICKY

[cougarfang.livejournal.com]

Oh how I love showing people the Cordyceps video... (warning: MAJOR ICK.)

[baby-rissa-chan.livejournal.com]

Oooooooh...neat!!!

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

Aw, man, David Attenborough is like CRACK to me. Have you seen Life in the undergrowth? There's one episode which basically tells you all of the horrible things wasps do to other bugs. It's pretty awesome.

I love the music they picked for the Cordyceps bit, too.

[skadichan.livejournal.com]

"endless possibilities"

Yeah. Life is full with infinite possibilities

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Seen it before. Still creepy.

Thank goodness Lotusboob isn't actually real. (Though botflies come close)

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

There's a whole episode of Life in the Undergrowth pretty much dedicated to body horror bugs. With their various strategies for eating things from the inside out, wasps alone could fuel horror movies for YEARS.

[skadichan.livejournal.com]

An isopod!!!

When I believe this animal was great for the deep-sea gigantism, this scientific note become it more interesting.

A parasite tongue! It's remember me for the Xenomorph tongue from Alien series.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I love the xenomorph's tongue with the jaws. So creepy!

Deep-sea gigantism is so weird. I just read a kickass novel featuring it ...

[westrider.livejournal.com]

That certainly would pose more of a problem if something like this infected a Species that relied on its Tongue for more than eating. Interesting possibilities with a Parasite/Symbiote that was intelligent enough/connected enough to its Host that it could replace a Speech Organ. Not only in terms of Infection, but also in terms of using it as a Prosthetic for certain forms of Muteness.

[sofish-sasha.livejournal.com]

I read about this critter (and saw the pic) last week or so, and went "AWESOME!" :D

Ah, symbiosis, what fun! I once invented a kind of symbiotic fish, though so far I haven't thought of what to do with it. Pic: http://sofiaalexandra.deviantart.com/art/I-m-dead-sexy-yeah-111793699

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I loved that image! I'm sure your fishbuddies will find their niche.

[packbat.livejournal.com]

Huh. My brother was just talking about this. Now I don't need to click on the link!

...

*clicks link*

...cool! That's way less gross than I was expecting!

[shadesofmauve]

I saw that on Pharyngula, and my first thought was also a feeling of impending-sci-fi-possibilities. I'm not working on a sci-fi world, though.

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

holy crap that's disturbing!