The Occurrence, Distribution and Attachment of the Pedunculate Barnacle 'Octolasmis Muelleri' (Coker) on the Gills of Crabs, Particularly the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus' Rathbun.

摘要

During the summer of 1973 crabs were collected regularly from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina and examined for the presence of the epizoic barnacle, Octolasmis miilleri (Coker), within the branchial chambers. The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun is the most common crab in Beaufort Inlet (Dudley and Judy, 1971) and was therefore chosen as the host for a detailed study of O. miilleri. The life-history and migrations of C. sapidus (Van Engel, 1958; Cargo, 1958; Costlow and Bookhout, 1959; Tagatz, 1968; Judy and Dudley, 1970; Dudley and Judy, 1971) have been studied because this crab is exploited commercially. The migrations of this crab may also influence the life-histories of epizoites. The present study investigates the occurrence, distribution and mode of attachment of the epizoic O. miilleri on the gills of C. sapidus and discusses the possible correlations with the life cycle and habits of the crab. (Author)