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Review of the Geographic Distribution of Acceptable Crustacean Hosts for Obligate, Ectosymbiotic Branchiobdellidans (Annelida: Clitellata)
Gelder SR 
Published Online: 12/31/2014
Abstract
Branchiobdellidan (Annelida: Clitellata), or crayfish worm, cocoons are obliged to be deposited only on live adults or egg cases of their crustacean hosts. If the host dies, then so will the branchiobdellidan embryo. What and how this maintenance factor from the host operates is unknown. Branchiobdellidans are ectosymbionts of astacoid crayfish in East Asia, North America and Euro-Mediterranean regions. Non-crayfish hosts have been reported on the south and east coasts of the USA (crabs), in central Appalachian mountain caves (isopods), Central America (isopods, shrimps and crabs), and southern East Asia (shrimps). In addition, crayfish and crabs translocated to Europe have been adopted by endemic Branchiobdella species. The criteria for crustacean host acceptance of branchiobdellidans and the worms’ readiness to adopt potential hosts is discussed.
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How to Cite
Gelder SR. (2014). Review of the Geographic Distribution of Acceptable Crustacean Hosts for Obligate, Ectosymbiotic Branchiobdellidans (Annelida: Clitellata). Freshwater Crayfish 20(1):81-85. doi: 10.5869/fc.2014.v20-1.81
Author Information
Stuart R. Gelder,* Department of Math-Sciences, University of Maine at Presque Isle, 181 Maine Street, Presque Isle, ME, USA04769. E-mail: stuart.gelder@umpi.edu
Corresponding Author indicated by an *.
Publication History
Manuscript Submitted: 10/22/2014
Manuscript Accepted: 11/25/2014
Published Online: 12/31/2014
Published in Print: 12/31/2014
Funding Information
No specific funding statement is available for this article.