Pacific Tuna Louse [Caligus productus]
Description
The Pacific Tuna Louse (Caligus productus) is a parasitic copepod species found predominantly in the Pacific Ocean. Similar to other species in the genus, they attach themselves to the skin, gills, or oral cavity of the host fish, commonly tuna, and feed on their body fluids. They have a broad, oval body and are usually 1-2 mm long, with females being larger than males.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropods
Arthropoda
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Copepods
Copepoda
|
| Order |
Siphonostomatoida
Siphonostomatoida
|
| Family |
Pennellidae
Pennellidae
|
| Genus |
Tuna Louse
Protosarcotretes
|