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Lepeophtheirus pectoralis

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Lepeophtheirus pectoralis
Scientific classification
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L. pectoralis
Binomial name
Lepeophtheirus pectoralis
(O. F. Müller, 1776) 

Lepeophtheirus pectoralis, is a species of copepod in the genus Lepeophtheirus. It is a parasite of flatfish, the most frequent hosts being the European flounder, Platichthys flesus, the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa and the dab, Limanda limanda.[1] It feeds on the mucus, skin and blood of the fish, with oviferous females being found in the pectoral and pelvic fins of the host, while immature individuals and males are found in the rest of the body.[2]

Life Cycle

Its life cycle consists of 5 phases and 10 stages. The first two stages are free swimming nauplius I and II, while the third stage is the copepodid stage, during which attaches itself to the fish. Stages IV, V, VI and VII are the chalimus stages, and are followed by the pre-adult and adult stages, when differentiation of males and females is possible.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Geoff Boxshall (1976). "The host specificity of Lepeophtheirus pectoralis (Müller) (Copepoda: Caligidae)". J.Fish.Biol. 8: 255. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1976.tb03949.x.
  2. ^ Geoff Boxshall (1974). "Lepeophtheirus pectoralis (O.F. Müller); a description, a review and some comparisons with the genus Caligus Müller, 1785". J.nat.Hist. 8: 445. doi:10.1080/00222937400770381.
  3. ^ Geoff Boxshall (1974). "The developmental stages of Lepeophtheirus pectoralis (Müller, 1776) (Copepoda: Caligidae)". J.nat.Hist. 8: 681. doi:10.1080/00222937400770581.