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Sacculina is a genus of barnacles that parasitize crabs. The female Sacculina larva finds a crab and walks on it until it finds a joint. It then molts, injecting its soft body into the crab while its shell falls off. The Sacculina grows in the crab, emerging as a sac, known as an externa, on the underside of the crab's rear thorax, where the crab's eggs would be incubated.

Crustacean Parasite

Sacculina is a genus of barnacles that parasitize crabs. The female Sacculina larva finds a crab and…

Sacculina is a genus of barnacles that parasitize crabs. The female Sacculina larva finds a crab and walks on it until it finds a joint. It then molts, injecting its soft body into the crab while its shell falls off. The Sacculina grows in the crab, emerging as a sac, known as an externa, on the underside of the crab's rear thorax, where the crab's eggs would be incubated. Here the parasite has been removed from the crab.

Crustacean Parasite

Sacculina is a genus of barnacles that parasitize crabs. The female Sacculina larva finds a crab and…