Bopyrus squillarum

Bopyrus squillarum is an isopod parasite of the infraorder Epicaridea. As such, B. squillarum is an ectoparasite, feeding off crustaceans hemolymph.^[1] This parasite is specific to common prawns (Palaemon serratus), but can rarely be found on other species of the genus Palaemon such as P. elegans.^[2]

Bopyrus squillarum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Malacostraca
Order:	Isopoda
Family:	Bopyridae
Genus:	Bopyrus
Species:	B. squillarum
Binomial name
Bopyrus squillarum Latreille, 1802

Distribution

Bopyrus squillarum can be found in marine habitats all along the northeast Atlantic coast as well as the north sea.^[2][3] The number of B. squillarum infections seem to vary over the years, as studies have shown infection rates ranging from 6.4% to 20.1% between 1969 and 2014 along the Irish coast.^[4]

Biology

During its planktonic larval stage, the young B. squillarum attaches to a young P. serratus and settles down in its branchial chamber. As the parasite and the prawn grow up, the parasite creates a bulge in the prawns carapace.^[2] The female B. squillarum is much bigger than the male and is the parasite that attaches to the host. The smaller male will attach itself to a female to breed.^[2] While present, B. squillarum will lead to a reduction in its hosts gonads and prevent the host's reproduction.^[2][4] The B. squillarum parasite has a shorter lifespan than its host, falling out of the branchial chamber of the prawn upon death.^[2][4]