Prawn Killer [Olencira prawnensis]
Description
Olencira prawnensis, commonly known as the Prawn Killer, is a species of parasitic copepod. It is a small, marine crustacean that infests the gill chambers of prawns, mainly Penaeus monodon. The copepod is pale in color and its body is elongated with a rounded posterior end. The female of the species is larger than the male. It is a harmful parasite that causes substantial damage to the host, leading to decreased production in prawn farming.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropods
Arthropoda
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Crustaceans
Malacostraca
|
| Order |
Isopods
Isopoda
|
| Family |
Cymothoidae
Cymothoidae
|
| Genus |
Olencira
Olencira
|