Branchiobdella (Noun)
Meaning
Type genus of the Branchiobdellidae: a small worm that lives on the gills or surface of a crayfish attached by a sucker.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- Branchiobdella species, known for being ectosymbionts of freshwater crayfish, feed on detritus, bacteria, and mucus of their host's body surface.
- Several crayfish infected with Branchiobdella were caught during a fish market inspection and put in isolation to reduce parasite spread.
- One specific adaptation that branchiobdella exhibits is an enlarged pharynx with denticles to rasp bacteria, organic debris, or diatoms on its crayfish host's skin surface.
- Microscopic inspection revealed multiple Branchiobdella individuals covering nearly 75% of a lone captured crayfish's dorsal carapace and pleon regions.
- There's strong indication of possible phoresy where one crustacean individual ingests another containing the free-living branchiobdella stages; such branchiobdellid parasitic lifestyle further links species host specific interactions and biotic roles of stream aquatic species composition.