Mythus (Mollusca, Bivalvia) epibiontic on the fish parasite mothocya Epimerica (Crustacea, Isopoda) in the sea of Marmara, Turkey

Abstract

Veliger and pediveliger stages of Mytilus cf. galloprovincialis are observed attached to the pleonites of the parasitic isopod Mothocya epimerica living in the branchial chamber of the fish, Atherina boyeri. The bivalves are attached by byssus threads to the isopod and to each other. It is suggested that this is an accidental association that comes about by the intake of drifting post larval stages whose byssus becomes entangled with the appendages of the isopod. While epibiontic bivalves are known to attach to the exoskeletons of decapod crustaceans this is the first record of attachment to parasitic isopods.