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The egg string attachment mechanism of selected pennellid copepods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 March 2001

T.A. Schram  and
P.A. Heuch
T.A. Schram
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1064, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway, E-mail: [email protected]
P.A. Heuch
Affiliation:
National Veterinary Institute, Fish Health Section, PO Box 8156, N-0033 Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

The anatomy of the hook apparatus that attaches egg strings to the fish parasites Haemobaphes cyclopterina, Lernaeocera branchialis, Lernaeocera lusci, Lernaeenicus sprattae, Sarcotretes scopeli and Pennella balaenoptera (Copepoda: Pennellida) is described and illustrated. The hook rises from a cupulate base, extending posteriorly and anteriorly in the body cavity. The suspension of the apparatus in the trunk of the different species differs, but the function is similar. The hook tip enters the genital antrum, nearly penetrates the proximal end of the egg string, and continues into a notch on the antrum wall. The apex of the egg string acquires a concave depression like the finger end of a glove. In this way the string is mechanically attached inside the female genital segment. The mobile ectoparasites Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Hatschekia hippoglossi have hooks which function similarly, but perforate the strings.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 81 , Issue 1 , February 2001 , pp. 23 - 32
Copyright
2001 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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