Anilocra

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anilocra: /ˌænɪˈloʊkrə/

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Summary

Anilocra pomacentri is a marine isopod that acts as an external parasite primarily on the yellowback puller fish. It affects its growth and survival and exhibits a unique reproductive strategy, changing its sex during its life cycle.

Physical Characteristics

Anilocra pomacentri has a distinctive morphology with a body length that can reach several millimeters, with adults recognized by their adherence to host fish and specific developmental stages, including males and females with different physiological roles.

Identification Tips

The juvenile stage (manca) attaches to the host skin, while adults can be identified by their size and the presence of the 'appendix masculina' in males, which is lost upon transitioning to females.

Habitat

Found in shallow water coral reefs, particularly around patch reefs in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef.

Distribution

Primarily occurs off the coast of eastern Australia in the southern Great Barrier Reef region.

Diet

An external parasite; feeds on the blood of its host fish (Chromis nitida).

Life Cycle

Anilocra pomacentri exhibits sequential hermaphroditism, starting as male, transitioning to female upon reaching a certain size. The female broods eggs in a marsupium, with larvae going through four stages before seeking hosts.

Reproduction

Reproduces by brooding eggs in the thoracic marsupium; typically produces three batches of eggs during its lifespan of about a year.

Ecosystem Role

Acts as an external parasite affecting the health and growth rates of host fish, influencing their populations and dynamics in coral reef ecosystems.

Economic Impact

May negatively impact populations of economically important fish species due to growth inhibition and increased mortality.

Health Concerns

Infected fish show decreased growth rates, lower fecundity, reduced red blood cell counts, and increased susceptibility to mortality.

Collecting Methods

• Hand collection from host fish
• Seining nets

Preservation Methods

• Ethanol preservation
• Freezing samples

Evolution

The evolutionary history of Anilocra reflects adaptations to parasitism and specific host associations within marine ecosystems.

Similar Taxa

• Other genus in the family Cymothoidae
• Isopod parasites

Misconceptions

There may be misconceptions about the severity of its impact on host fish, as not all parasitic infections result in immediate mortality of the host.

Tags

• marine isopod
• parasitic relationship
• Great Barrier Reef
• Anilocra pomacentri