is this a parasitic copepod ?

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 11:39 am

This living marine copepod was 650 µm long. It has a very strange (simplyfied) forme, therefore I ask if this is a parasitic animal? I dont know even the family...
Obj. 10x DIC, stack wit 16 pictures
Obj. 20x DIC, stack with 8 pictures.

Franz

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:24 pm

Franz,

as always, nice images!

There are quite some families and genera of the Harpacticoida that have such a longish, worm-like body as we can see it in your specimen here, typicially they are bentic, marine as well as limnic. So, I'd say this specimen's habitus alone isn't raising suspicion that it's a parasite.

How and where did you collect this specimen? On another animal what could have been a host?

--Betty

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 1:59 pm

Hello Betty,

thank you for your kind feedback! I have to admitt that I am just a beginner in the field of copepods. I found this animal in the plankton of the harbour here, but the Benthos is not very fare away (the water is only 5-6 meters deep). I had the impression that this copepod is not a good swimmer.
I did'nt find bigger animals, only many dinoflagellates.

Franz

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:37 am

Franz, two excellent images, and finding out what they are is a bonus. They look rather opaque, also, unlike the freshwater copepods I find here, which are almost clear.

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:22 am

Franz,

I photographed this fish parasitic, caligid copepod a while ago, not the best photo as the animal was already dead and a bit rotten when I collected it, hence only parts of the antennae/mouthparts/legs are just faintly visible.

--Betty