Nicothoe astaci

Nicothoe astaci
A picture of Nicothoë astaci
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Copepoda
Order: Siphonostomatoida
Family: Nicothoidae
Genus: Nicothoe
Species:
N. astaci
Binomial name
Nicothoe astaci

Nicothoë astaci or the 'lobster louse' is an ectoparasitic copepod that parasitises the gills of the European lobster species Homarus gammarus. The lobster louse was first reported in 1826 by Audoin & Milne-Edwards.[2] N. astaci has been found on lobsters inhabiting locations including Scotland,[3] Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel[4] and as far south as France and Portugal.[5] The louse possesses a narrow suctorial mouthpart to feed on host haemolymph.[4][6] Internally, In its adult form, Nicothoe is barely mobile and most likely remains in the same position for most of its life. The parasite occurs in groups, particularly near the base of the gills, and study has gone into its effects on the lobsters,[7] which are considerably important, commercially. Not much is known about its life cycle, since there are significant gaps in knowledge of certain stages of its growth.

  1. ^ J. Ho, T. Chad Walter & Geoff Boxshall (2011). Walter TC, Boxshall G (eds.). "Nicothoe astaci Audouin & Edwards, 1826". World of Copepods database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  2. ^ General outline of the organization of the animal kingdom : - Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 2015-09-15. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Mason, James (1959-02-01). "The biology of Nicothoë astaci Audouin and Milne Edwards" (PDF). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 38 (1): 3–16. Bibcode:1959JMBUK..38....3M. doi:10.1017/S0025315400015538. ISSN 1469-7769.
  4. ^ a b Wootton, Emma C.; Pope, Edward C.; Vogan, Claire L.; Roberts, Emily C.; Davies, Charlotte E.; Rowley, Andrew F. (2011-09-01). "Morphology and pathology of the ectoparasitic copepod, Nicothoë astaci ('lobster louse') in the European lobster, Homarus gammarus". Parasitology. 138 (10): 1285–1295. doi:10.1017/S003118201100093X. ISSN 1469-8161. PMID 21756425. S2CID 206246610.
  5. ^ Monteiro, Luisa (21–24 May 2006). "Parasites as cause of rejection in Por- tuguese fish markets" (PDF). Proceedings of the International Workshop on Marine Parasitology. Arquipélago - Life and Marine Sciences Supplement 6. Retrieved 15 Sep 2015.
  6. ^ Davies, Charlotte E.; Thomas, Gethin R.; Maffeis, Thierry G. G.; Wootton, Emma C.; Penny, Mark W.; Rowley, Andrew F. (2014-10-01). "Detailed surface morphology of the 'lobster louse' copepod, Nicothoë astaci, a haematophagous gill parasite of the European lobster, Homarus gammarus". Journal of Invertebrate Pathology. 122: 48–51. doi:10.1016/j.jip.2014.08.006. PMID 25196471.
  7. ^ Davies, Charlotte E.; Vogan, Claire L.; Rowley, Andrew F. (2015-03-09). "NOTE Effect of the copepod parasite Nicothoë astaci on haemolymph chemistry of the European lobster Homarus gammarus". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 113 (2): 169–175. doi:10.3354/dao02814. PMID 25751860.