Coral-associate

Guides

• Munididae

  Munidid Squat Lobsters

  Munididae is a family of squat lobsters (Decapoda: Anomura) taxonomically separated from Galatheidae in 2010. Members are predominantly deep-water taxa distinguished by a trispinose frontal edge to the carapace, a central rostrum, and two spines extending forward from above the eyes. The family exhibits substantial cryptic diversity, with species often distinguishable only by subtle morphological differences in telson shape and pereopod dactyli. Reproductive strategies vary, with Munididae typically producing numerous small eggs compared to related families.

  deep-seasquat-lobstercryptic-speciationAnomuraGalatheoideacontinental-slopeseamount-faunaegg-sizedepth-gradientfishery-resourcecoral-associateparasite-host

• Siphonostomatoida

  Siphon-mouth Copepods

  Siphonostomatoida is an order of copepods distinguished by siphon-like mandibles and a frontal filament used for host attachment. The order comprises 40 recognized families, with approximately 75% of all fish-parasitizing copepods belonging to this group. Most species are marine symbionts, though a few inhabit freshwater environments. Members exhibit diverse host associations, with 17 families parasitizing vertebrates (primarily fishes) and 23 families associated with invertebrates.

  copepodparasitemarinefish-parasitesymbiontcrustaceanectoparasiteSiphonostomatoidabiodiversitySouthern-AfricaJapanBrazilsponge-associatecoral-associatedevelopmental-stageschalimusfrontal-filamentsiphon-mandibleAsterocheridaeLernaeopodidaePennellidaeHatschekiidaeSphyriidaeNotodelphyidaeBotryllophilidae