Parasites

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
Post Reply
User avatar
derekcs
Perma Narc'd
Posts: 724
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:14 pm

Parasites

Post by derekcs »

I took a closeup picture of a flounder's eye on a night dive at Redondo and noticed all these marks. They look like parasitic isopods or copepods, but they seem like cartoon drawings. Anyone know what these critters are exactly?
Capture.JPG
All underwater photographs of mine are posted at http://www.dereksinger.com
@dereksingerphotography on Instagram
User avatar
Greg Jensen
Amphibian
Posts: 857
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:02 am

Re: Parasites

Post by Greg Jensen »

They are branchiurans, a type of parasitic crustacean. They are often referred to as "fish lice" but that name is also given to some very similar-looking parasitic copepods. The easy way to tell them apart is that branchiurans have a pair of eyes and copepods don't.
User avatar
derekcs
Perma Narc'd
Posts: 724
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:14 pm

Re: Parasites

Post by derekcs »

Thanks so much!
All underwater photographs of mine are posted at http://www.dereksinger.com
@dereksingerphotography on Instagram
Post Reply