# Is this the most disgusting parasite? - Niko Zlotnik

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/is-this-the-most-disgusting-parasite-niko-zlotnik
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/is-this-the-most-disgusting-parasite-niko-zlotnik.md
Podcast: [TED-Ed](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430)
Published: 2026-07-03T21:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG6077257542.mp3
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG6077257542.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ted-ed-7859430/episodes/is-this-the-most-disgusting-parasite-niko-zlotnik
Duration seconds: 513

## Resource

Get to know the parasite known as the tongue-eating louse, which eats the tongue of a fish and then takes its place permanently.--The infamous tongue-eating louse is one of nearly 400 species belonging to a family of fish parasites. Some latch onto their host’s head, others suck blood from fish gills, and others still burrow into fish flesh. But the Cymothoa exigua goes specifically for fish tongues. How do these parasites do it, and why? Niko Zlotnik explores the strategies tongue biters use to find a fish to call home.Lesson by Niko Zlotnik, directed by Flaka Kokolli, Flammorum Animation Studio.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/let-us-ruin-your-day-with-this-tongue-eating-parasite-niko-zlotnikDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/let-us-ruin-your-day-with-this-tongue-eating-parasite-niko-zlotnik/digdeeperAnimator's website: https://flammorum.com----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Ka-Hei Law, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Lex Azevedo, Michael Aquilina, Jason…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ted-ed-7859430/episodes/is-this-the-most-disgusting-parasite-niko-zlotnik/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/ted-ed-7859430/is-this-the-most-disgusting-parasite-niko-zlotnik.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.