Echinosocius elatensis
| Echinosocius elatensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Copepoda |
| Order: | Cyclopoida |
| Family: | Taeniacanthidae |
| Genus: | Echinosocius |
| Species: | E. elatensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Echinosocius elatensis Jacob-Judah, 1975 | |
Echinosocius elatensis is a species of copepod in the family Taeniacanthidae. First formally described in 1975, it has a commensal relationship with Diadema setosum, a species of sea urchin.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Sheba Jacob-Judah in 1975 from Diadema setosum specimens collected from the Gulf of Elat.[1][2]
Description
When the caudal rami are included in the measurement, females of this species are 1.43 mm long and males are 0.51 mm long. They are white, with a red-violet streak running along the center of the upper surface. The wide cephalothorax has fine hairs on the upper surface and sides. They have a poorly developed rostrum, and the head is fused with the first leg-bearing segment. The antennules have six segments, with the first making up nearly half the length and the second and third segments imperfectly separated. The free thoracic segments become smaller the further they are from the head.[2]
In the third and fourth pairs of legs, the third segment of the endopods has two setae.[3]
Ecology
Echinosocius elatensis lives on the spines of Diadema setosum, specifically those around the urchin's anus, and it is assumed that they feed on the host's waste material. Females live on the thicker spines and males live on the thinner ones.[2]
References
- ↑ Walter TC, Boxshall G, eds. (2026). "Echinosocius elatensis Jacob-Judah, 1975". World of Copepods Database. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 JACOB-JUDAH, SHEBA (12 April 1975). "COMMENSAL TAENIACANTHID COPEPODS FROM THE SEA URCHIN DIADEMA SETOSUM AT ELAT (RED SEA) WITH A DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES". Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution. 24 (1–2). doi:10.1080/00212210.1975.10688407 (inactive 3 July 2026). ISSN 2224-4662. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2026 (link) - ↑ Dojiri, M.; Humes, A. G. (April 1982). "Copepods (Poecilostomatoida: Taeniacanthidae) from sea urchins (Echinoidea) in the southwest Pacific". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 74 (4): 381–436. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1982.tb01159.x. Retrieved 10 July 2026.