Bopyrus squillarum
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| Species: | B. 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]
Distribution
B. 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]
Biology
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 as such 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]
- ^ Rohde, K. 2005. Marine Parasitology. Edited By K. Rohde. CSIRO Publishing
- ^ a b c d e f DeBhaldraithe, P. 1972. Notes on the Occurrence of the Isopod Parasite Bopyrus squillarum Latreille. Irish Naturalists Journal 17(8): 276–279.
- ^ https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Bopyrus-squillarum.html
- ^ a b c Quigley, D.T., and Rafferty, J. 2015. The occurrence of the parasitic Isopod Bopyrus squillarum Latreille, 1802 on the Common Shrimp (Palaemon serratus (Pennant)) in Irish waters. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 34(2): 131–132.