Walleye parasite

[Kevin J Legg]

Found these green leech like critters on 2 walleye tails this morning. Anyone know what they are?

 

 

[Sk8man]

Parasitic nematode of some type?

[Kevin J Legg]

I got this report back from Region 6 fisheries.

 

This is an Acanthocephalan of some sort, otherwise known as a ‘thorny head worm’.  Not sure what species it is.  Common creature in the wild although it’s typically not very abundant anywhere. 

 

[Grady95]

Are they in the meat?

[Kevin J Legg]

Not in the meat.

[D May]

, I will keep an eye out for them. Thank you for posting.