Pacific Sacculina [Loxothylacus panopaei]
Description
Loxothylacus panopaei, known as the Pacific Sacculina, is a parasitic barnacle species that infects mud crabs. It is native to the Gulf of Mexico, but has been introduced to the Chesapeake Bay and other Atlantic waters, where it is considered an invasive species. The species is characterized by a complex life cycle, with the female parasite controlling the host crab's reproductive system. The infected crabs, regardless of their sex, behave as if they are carrying the parasite's eggs and help in their dispersal.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Arthropods
Arthropoda
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Crustaceans
Malacostraca
|
| Order |
Isopods
Isopoda
|
| Family |
Parasitic Isopods
Bopyridae
|
| Genus |
Loxothylacus
Loxothylacus
|