Cyamus boopis

Cyamus boopis is a species of whale louse in the family Cyamidae.[1]

Cyamus boopis
Dorsal view
Ventral view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Amphipoda
Family:
Cyamidae
Genus:
Cyamus
Species:
C. boopis
Binomial name
Cyamus boopis
Lütken, 1870 [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Cyamus ceti Chilton, 1883
  • Cyamus elongatus Hiro, 1938
  • Cyamus pacificus Lütken, 1873
  • Cyamus suffuses Dall, 1872
  • Paracyamus boopis

This is an ectoparasite that lives exclusively on humpback whales. The infestation is most concentrated around the genital apertures, but occurs on all parts of the body, most commonly where there is an infestation of the barnacle species Coronula diadema.[2]

Whale lice will promptly try to attach themselves to people when handling whales during processing.[2]

Description

Males of the species grow to about 11.5 mm long and 4 mm wide, with the first antenna being about 5.25 mm long.[2] Females grow to 9.5 mm long and 4 mm wide with the first antenna 3.5 mm.[2]

Both sexes have four-segmented antennae, the endmost containing strong bristles. The body comprises multiple segments, each containing hooks used to attach itself to the whale.[2]

References
  1. Jim Lowry (2012). Lowry J (ed.). "Cyamus boopis Lütken, 1870". World Amphipoda database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
  2. Hurley, D. E. (1952). "Studies on the New Zealand Amphipodan Fauna No. 1—The Family Cyamidae: The Whale-louse Paracyamus boopis". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 80 (1): 63–8.


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