A copepod parasite (Sarcotretes sp.) on the outside of this fish, an ectoparasite, has attached and used its mouth part to pierce the outer wall of the fish. That mouth part then wraps around the internal organs of the fish and specifically pierces the digestive tract - feeding on whatever the fish has fed on. The two long, streamer-like structures are egg strings. To make matters worse, the mouth part is barbed...this parasite isnt coming off. Trawled from between 1, 500 and 1, 200 meters depth, Gulf of Mexico, 2018. Collected during the DEEPEND project. Image courtesy of the DEEPEND project. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Fenolio, Dante |
Taille de l’image : | 4000 px × 6000 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |