Strange deep-sea fish found with 'pig-tailed' parasites attached in South Atlantic Ocean | Watch video

A video made recently in the remote South Atlantic has engaged the imagination of scientists and the general public alike, as it presents a strange and ghostly sight. In the video, two pigtailed-looking parasites cling to the head of a fish, and people are intrigued by it. The strange encounter in the depths of the ocean reveals the unusual and foreign creatures hiding under the ocean's surface. The appearance of the parasites, looking like something out of a science fiction movie, has fascinated audiences, providing a glimpse into the unknown and largely uncharted lifeforms that populate the world's oceans, piquing interest in the deep-sea ecosystem and its numerous mysteries.




Deep-sea creature with pig-tailed looking parasites spotted at 1,604 feet


The footage, uploaded by the Schmidt Ocean Institute to Facebook, demonstrates two grotesque parasites called Lophoura szidati copepods clinging to the head of a deepwater fish. These crustaceans belonging to the family Sphyriidae have extended, spiral egg sacs hanging from their bodies, making them look strangely like pig tails.

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The fish, belonging to the Macrourus genus and better known as rattail fish or grenadiers, inhabit deep, cold waters of the oceans. The specimen in question was seen at 1,604 feet depth close to the South Sandwich Islands, which are volcanoes.



How the parasites feed and survive
As described by James Bernot, a biologist with the Smithsonian Institution, these copepods employ specialised scraping mouthparts to tunnel into the flesh of the fish, consuming its internal fluids and tissues. Bernot said that these organisms are mesoparasites, which essentially live partially embedded in their host. While their heads are hidden within the body of the fish, the rest of their bodies—arealbeit large egg sacs—are still visible outside.

Parasites are GREAT!

Lifecycle from invasion to infestation
The copepods start off as small larvae that attach themselves to a host fish early in life. They become more embedded as they develop, creating structures that function as biological grappling hooks. In the instance recorded on video, every parasite is found with two large sacs of hundreds of eggs, a rather chilling sight that adds to their already unsettling look.

These egg sacs hold nauplii, the larval form of copepods, which will later undergo various developmental stages before searching for their own hosts. Even though they are parasitic, Bernot mentioned that they have surprisingly alert reproductive behavior compared to invertebrates.




Scientists puzzled by copepods’ lasting effects on fish

These parasitic copepods stay with their host fish for sometimes months, years even. Worse still is when the copepods die off, their heads tend to still be stuck deep in the host fish's body for years afterwards, creating indelible physical marks.

While L. szidati is one of the more prevalent copepod parasites in this region of the sea, scientists still don't know much about the diversity and habits of parasitic organisms in Antarctica's deep ocean. This video not only made a lasting impression among marine scientists but also served as a stark reminder of how enigmatic—and at times, repulsive—the bottom of the ocean can be.




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