Ceratothoa steindachneri

Ceratothoa steindachneri is an ectoparasite known as 'tongue biters'. They parasitise fish in which it attaches to the tongue, causing atrophy. It then sits in the place of the tongue.[1]

Ceratothoa steindachneri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Isopoda
Suborder:
Cymothoida
Superfamily:
Cymothoidea
Family:
Cymothoidae
Genus:
Ceratothoa
Species:
C. steindachneri
Binomial name
Ceratothoa steindachneri
Koelbel, 1879


Description

Ceratothoa steindachneri has a oval to rounded body and is generally stocky. They are tan or ivory coloured. There is great sexual dimorphism in this species, with females (15-23 mm) being much larger than males (4.8-5.3 mm). Females are also more rotund, males are more stocky and rectangular.[2]


Distribution

Ceratothoa steindachneri is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.[2][3]

It was first found in British waters at Whitsand Bay, Cornwall in 1996 in the lesser weever fish . It has since be found all around the coast of Britain.[4]


Host species

It is a generalist species that can parasitise a wide range of fish species, including the shortnose greeneye (Chlorophthalmus agassizi), lesser weever fish (Echiichthys vipera), red porgy (Pagrus pagrus), comber (Serranus cabrilla), painted comber (Serranus scriba), Brown comber (Serranus hepatus), Annular seabream (Diplodus annularis), and the common two-banded sea bream (Diplodus vulgaris).[4][3]

Ceratothoa steindachneri has also been reported on Raja asterias, R. polystigma, and R. albas. However, these records are to be confirmed as they are most likely the result of trawl transfers.[2]


References
  1. Baker, Nick (June 2019). "Hidden Britain. Crab Hacker". BBC Wildlife. p. 17.
  2. Horton, Tammy (2000). "Ceratorhoa steindachneri (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) new to British waters with a key to north east Atlantic and Mediterranean Cetatothoa". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 80 (6): 1041–52. doi:10.1017/S0025315400003106.
  3. Horton, Tammy; Diamant, Arik; Halil, Bella (2004). "Ceratothoa steindachneri (Isopoda, Cymothoidae): An unusual record from the Mediterranean". Crustaceana. 77 (9): 1145–1148. doi:10.1163/1568540042900231.
  4. Horton, Tammy; Okamura, Beth (2002). "The distribution of Ceratothoa steindachneri (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) parasitic in Echiichthys vipera in the north-east Atlantic". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 82 (3): 415–417. doi:10.1017/S0025315402005660.


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