What is this hitchhiker?

[digitalis]

that thing is cool!

[reeferstace]

Pearlfish have a commensalistic relationship with certain species of sea cukes. The fish lives within the lower GI tract of the cuke. It rarely harms the 'host' cucumber. I am not sure of the success rate of a pearlfish that does not have a sea cucmber host. I say put it in.

[wickedfood]

Originally posted by asherah
Pearlfish are unusual in that the adults of most species live inside various types of invertebrate. Typically, they live inside clams, starfish or sea squirts, and are simply commensal, not harming their hosts. However, some species are known to be parasitic on sea cucumbers, eating their GONADS! Regardless of the habits of the adults, the larvae of pearlfish are free-living among the plankton. Pearlfish larvae can be distinguished by the presence of a long filament in front of their dorsal fin, sometimes with various appendages attached


I wouldn't

I'll tell you where not to put it--down your shorts.

[S4mula]

Originally posted by plyr58
Dude, how did you know that?

I never cease to be amazed by the quality of the collective knowledge on this site.

I watch alot of nature stuff on the tele.

[devgru]

i grabbed my gonads as soon as i read the reply that they eat gonads...first pi i thought it was loch ness fry