Minette Layne-Worthey, Seattle, Washington, USA
Info
There are a variety of known interactions between host medusae and other organisms, ranging from protists to fishes
These include symbiosis, phoresy, parasitism, parasitoidism, predation, and mutualism, although the exact degree of their dependence on hosts is poorly understood
Peachia quinquecapitata is a small anemone that attacks and parasitizes hydro- and scyphomedusae, attacking hosts include Clytia gregaria (Agassiz, 1862), Aequorea coerulescens (Brandt, 1835)
and Eutonina indicans (Romanes, 1876).
The life cycle of Peachia quinquecapitata consists of two phases, the endoparasitic and ectoparasitic phases.
Planulae parasitize by mouth in the stomach or radial ducts of the host and then remain in the gastrovascular cavity during the endoparasitic phase for an average of 11 days after infection.
Thereafter, the larvae move out of the mouth or burrow through the tissues of the radial canal to reach the gonad.
The ectoparasitic larvae attach to the host using nematocysts and then metamorphose into juveniles with tentacles, a siphonoglyph, and a pharynx
The sessile adult anemone settles on the sea floor, its body column is light brown to brown, the oral disc with distinct folds around the siphonoglyph
Synonyms:
Bicidium aequoreae McMurrich, 1913
Peachia aequoreae McMurrich, 1913
These include symbiosis, phoresy, parasitism, parasitoidism, predation, and mutualism, although the exact degree of their dependence on hosts is poorly understood
Peachia quinquecapitata is a small anemone that attacks and parasitizes hydro- and scyphomedusae, attacking hosts include Clytia gregaria (Agassiz, 1862), Aequorea coerulescens (Brandt, 1835)
and Eutonina indicans (Romanes, 1876).
The life cycle of Peachia quinquecapitata consists of two phases, the endoparasitic and ectoparasitic phases.
Planulae parasitize by mouth in the stomach or radial ducts of the host and then remain in the gastrovascular cavity during the endoparasitic phase for an average of 11 days after infection.
Thereafter, the larvae move out of the mouth or burrow through the tissues of the radial canal to reach the gonad.
The ectoparasitic larvae attach to the host using nematocysts and then metamorphose into juveniles with tentacles, a siphonoglyph, and a pharynx
The sessile adult anemone settles on the sea floor, its body column is light brown to brown, the oral disc with distinct folds around the siphonoglyph
Synonyms:
Bicidium aequoreae McMurrich, 1913
Peachia aequoreae McMurrich, 1913
