Metazoa info

[Duke Guilmon]

Sacculina carcini



Size:Not Known

Weight:Not known

Life expectancy:Not known

When it first appeared:Not known

Location:This barnacle is usually found in the crabs shell at its genitalia. They live in the same water that they can find crabs in.

Taxonomy:
Class:Maxillopoda
Subclass:Thecostraca
Infraclass:Cirripedia
Superorder:Rhizocephala
Order:Kentrogonida
Family:Sacculinidae
Genus:Sacculina
Species:Sacculina carcini

Diet:Eats the crabs body fluids

Anatomy:Sacculina carcini larvae molts into a kentrogon form, which happens when the animal is young. This enables it to enter inside the crab.

Behavior: Sacculina carcini spends most of its life inside its host. They manipulate the crab to do its bidding

Reproduction:Sacculina carcini mate while still inside the host. Sacculina females in a male host will force the male to resemble a female, release female hormones, and even make "her" do a mating dance. When they lay their eggs, the crab that is a host of the female will take care of the eggs as if it was their own.

Relationships with other animals: Crabs are important to this animal. This is because their life cycle depends on them. They also benefit humans as they get rid of crabs considered pest.



He was uncomfortable with his gender

Other sources:

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/ac...a_carcini/

http://societyofbiologyblog.org/sacculina-parasite/

http://www.ecomare.nl/en/encyclopedia/or...a-carcini/