very "strange" copepods: Monstrilloida

[Franz Neidl]

The Monstrillidae are really strange (for me). I have two pictures from two different animals.
I see only eggs (first picture), but my question is if they are able to feed (cfr. the second picture)?
Somebody knows more about their biology?

Brightfield, objective 4x, seawater plankton


Franz

[BJ]

hello Franz,

i do not get much time to visit the forum these days.... I make a quick visit today and find that you have something very special ...and beautifully photographed. As it is you, I am not surprised!

I have never seen Monstrilla myself. Only the adults and nauplii are free living - all other stages occur as endoparasites in a range of benthic organisms ( definitely sponges, polychaetes and bivalve molluscs...I am not sure of the full range of hosts).

As you say the adult has no gut and is just a reproductive and dispersal machine.

The nauplii burrow into the host and envelope themselves in the tissue and feed off the host fluids. They moult and develop through the life stages (no idea how many) within the cyst and then when at the adult or pre-adult stage (again I am not sure which) burrow out again and join the plankton. I doubt that you will find much on the web about it.

What a fantastic find and great photos,

thanks for posting,

best wishes,

Brian

[RogelioMoreno]

Nice, very rare specimen.

Rogelio

[Franz Neidl]

hello Brian,

I want just say THANK YOU for your comment about the Monstrillidae. I was very happy to heare from you.

Franz