Re: NANFA-- strange fish question

Jay DeLong (thirdwind_at_att.net)
Tue, 12 Dec 2000 12:06:32 -0800

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Sajjad, see http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/science/DailyNews/uwfish.html

From that page:
Pietsch, who is curator of one of the largest fish collections in the
United States, stands in his spotless basement laboratory at the University
of Washington, holding up a glass jar. Inside, a tiny male anglerfish,
floating in alcohol, dangles like a fig leaf from the belly of a female
about 20 times his size. From the moment the male anglerfish is born 1,200
feet under the sea, he's on the make for a female to mooch off. When he
eventually finds her with his acute sense of smell, he plunges needle-sharp
teeth into her flesh and hangs on his entire life. In fact, he fuses to the
female, eventually sharing her circulatory system.

When it's time to mate, she sends down a messenger hormone ordering him to
release sperm into the water. "These are beautiful, scientifically
fascinating fish," Pietsch says about the leathery little guy that only a
dedicated scientist could love. "He's the only sexual parasite in the
world!" Though some women might dispute that, Pietsch is technically right.

--
Jay DeLong
Olympia, WA

At 11:52 AM 12/12/00, you wrote: >Someoone asked me: > >Are you aware of the ? fish, where the male actually becomes part of the >female anatomy by shrinking in size and being absorbed beneath her skin. >There to perform only his sexual duty and get all his needs from her body. > >Does anyone know the answer? > >Thanks >Sajjad

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