Blood sucking creatures appear in tuna boxes

The parasite, usually clinging to the tongue of the tongue and sucking blood from the host, was discovered by a British woman in a tuna box.

Zoe Butler was stunned to see the eyes of the little creature inside the can of tuna when opening the lid. It has a dendritic tail, a reddish color and prominent black eyes.

Zoe Butler said she was surprised to see a small creature with prominent black eyes in a tuna box.(Photo: Newsteam)

"I opened the lid and saw something a little red, like a gut. Then I turned around, pushed it up with a fork and saw it looking back," Telegraph said yesterday. She dropped both the plate and shouted at that time.

Images of this tiny creature sparkle with many different explanations. Hany Elsheikha, a researcher at Nottingham University, said it was a small crab. Meanwhile, others have speculated about the fetal form of puffer fish, tadpole or the tip of a soft shell turtle.

However, according to experts from the Natural History Museum, it may belong to the parasitic species called Cymothoa exigua. This species often lives in fish gills, clinging to the tongue of the host. As a result, it can suck blood and mucus of fish.

Cymothoa exigua is a parasite in the fish's mouth.(Photo: Telegraph)

Cymothoa exigua is an equal foot species in the Cymothoidar family. It was scientifically described in 1884. In addition to sucking blood from the host, it did not cause any other harm.