PRAWN ID

Can anyone tell me what the 'yellow ball' is inside this common prawn? Eggs?

Aughrusmore pier, Connemara.

Thanks

Mark

Was it only on one side? then it's a parasitic, a highly modified isopod in the family Bopyridae. The large mass would be a female. Males are quite small & live attached to the femlae.

Was it only on one side? then it's a parasitic, a highly modified isopod in the family Bopyridae. The large mass would be a female. Males are quite small & live attached to the femlae.

Thanks Leslie. Very interesting. Can't remember if this is the same prawn but the yellow mass isn't as obvious from the other side.

Does this parasite live in or on the prawn and what ill effects will it cause?

Mark

Nice pictures Mark. Yep, it's a bopyrid. They live under the exoskeleton of the shrimp. Females attach to the shrimp's gills and feed by sucking it's blood - up to 25% of the host's blood may be removed at one feeding. Male bopyrids live on the females but it's not known how they feed. Male shrimp don't seem to be as effected by the parasite as females. Egg production may be depressed or suppressed altogether. The shrimp move less, feed less, grow less.

Nice pictures Mark. Yep, it's a bopyrid. They live under the exoskeleton of the shrimp. Females attach to the shrimp's gills and feed by sucking it's blood - up to 25% of the host's blood may be removed at one feeding. Male bopyrids live on the females but it's not known how they feed. Male shrimp don't seem to be as effected by the parasite as females. Egg production may be depressed or suppressed altogether. The shrimp move less, feed less, grow less.

Thanks very much for the info Leslie.

Mark