Cancrincola [Cancrincola]

Description

Cancrincola is the sole genus in the family Cancrincolidae, comprising small, parasitic copepods that inhabit the gills of marine crabs. These copepods are distinguished by their highly specialized body forms adapted for a parasitic lifestyle, including modifications for attachment to the gill filaments of their hosts. The body of Cancrincola species is typically elongated and cylindrical, facilitating their movement and attachment within the narrow interlamellar spaces of crab gills. Their life cycle is complex, involving several developmental stages, each adapted to the specific environmental conditions encountered within their crab hosts. The genus is noteworthy for its specificity to certain crab species, highlighting a closely co-evolved relationship between the parasite and its host.

Species

Texas crab louse [Cancrincola texanus]

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Gulf crab louse [Cancrincola gulfensis]