Guido Zsilavecz, SURG (Southern Underwater Research Group), Süd-Afrika
Info
Anilocra capensis Leach, 1818
The type locality for the description of Anilocra capensis is Cape Town, South Africa. The species occurs along the coast of South Africa, from the west coast of Walvis Bay in Namibia to the east coast near East London in South Africa.
Anilocra capensis has a smooth, slate-gray carapace with a five-segmented pleon. The head has short antennae and is triangular, while the telson is rounded. The legs end in strong hooks, which the parasitized fish use to attach themselves. The well-developed uropods often protrude far beyond the body. The species can grow quite large, reaching a length of 60 mm.
Anilocra capensis is a parasitic isopod that actively attacks fish swimming by at a fairly fast speed, often in groups, and attaches itself to its new host at lightning speed (very often in the head area of the fish).
The species parasitizes fish, preferably Pachymetopon blochii, a medium-sized sea bream that is common in shallow kelp forests off the South African coast.
The isopod continuously sucks blood and cell juices from the fish's body and feeds on these fluids. As a rule, these parasites only leave their host when “there is nothing left to get,” i.e., when the host fish is so weakened by the constant blood loss that it dies.
Depending on the health and strength of the fish, the decline may take longer or shorter. With a size of up to 6 cm, even the usual cleaner fish such as wrasse are usually of no help.
Parasitic fish lice are found in all oceans, but as the species name “capensis” suggests, Anilocra capensis is an endemic species that only occurs in the waters around South Africa.
The type locality for the description of Anilocra capensis is Cape Town, South Africa. The species occurs along the coast of South Africa, from the west coast of Walvis Bay in Namibia to the east coast near East London in South Africa.
Anilocra capensis has a smooth, slate-gray carapace with a five-segmented pleon. The head has short antennae and is triangular, while the telson is rounded. The legs end in strong hooks, which the parasitized fish use to attach themselves. The well-developed uropods often protrude far beyond the body. The species can grow quite large, reaching a length of 60 mm.
Anilocra capensis is a parasitic isopod that actively attacks fish swimming by at a fairly fast speed, often in groups, and attaches itself to its new host at lightning speed (very often in the head area of the fish).
The species parasitizes fish, preferably Pachymetopon blochii, a medium-sized sea bream that is common in shallow kelp forests off the South African coast.
The isopod continuously sucks blood and cell juices from the fish's body and feeds on these fluids. As a rule, these parasites only leave their host when “there is nothing left to get,” i.e., when the host fish is so weakened by the constant blood loss that it dies.
Depending on the health and strength of the fish, the decline may take longer or shorter. With a size of up to 6 cm, even the usual cleaner fish such as wrasse are usually of no help.
Parasitic fish lice are found in all oceans, but as the species name “capensis” suggests, Anilocra capensis is an endemic species that only occurs in the waters around South Africa.
