Bopyrus squillarum | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Malacostraca |
Order: | Isopoda |
Family: | Bopyridae |
Genus: | Bopyrus |
Species: | B. squillarum
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Binomial name | |
Bopyrus squillarum
Latreille, 1802
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Bopyrus squillarum is an isopod parasite of the infraorder Epicaridea. As such, B. squillarum is an ectoparasite, feeding off crustaceans hemolymph. [1] This parasite is specific to common prawns ( Palaemon serratus), but can rarely be found on other species of the genus Palaemon such as P. elegans. [2]
Bopyrus squillarum can be found in marine habitats all along the northeast Atlantic coast as well as the north sea. [2] [3] The number of B. squillarum infections seem to vary over the years, as studies have shown infection rates ranging from 6.4% to 20.1% between 1969 and 2014 along the Irish coast. [4]
During its planktonic larval stage, the young B. squillarum attaches to a young P. serratus and settles down in its branchial chamber. As the parasite and the prawn grow up, the parasite creates a bulge in the prawns carapace. [2] The female B. squillarum is much bigger than the male and is the parasite that attaches to the host. The smaller male will attach itself to a female to breed. [2] While present, B. squillarum will lead to a reduction in its hosts gonads and prevent the host's reproduction. [2] [4] The B. squillarum parasite has a shorter lifespan than its host, falling out of the branchial chamber of the prawn upon death. [2] [4]