Crustaceans as Hosts of Parasites Throughout the Phanerozoic

Klompmaker, Adiël A.; Robins, Cristina M.; Portell, Roger W.; Angeli, Antonio De

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-52233-9_5

“…Many authors have reported parasite–host interactions between epicarideans and fossil decapod crustaceans since the mid-nineteenth century 4 ; all these reports are based on the swellings in the branchial region, formally assigned by Klompmaker et al to the ichnotaxon Kanthyloma crusta , which is morphologically similar to the swellings induced by bopyrids in modern decapods 4 , 10 . The history of fossilized branchial swellings was reviewed by Klompmaker et al 4 , 8 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To date only some cryptoniscus larvae preserved in Mexico, France and Myanmar ambers have been described 12 – 15 . A common way to recognize paleo-parasitism in the absence of body fossils of parasites is to identify the traces of structures formed as a result of the interaction between parasite and host 8 . The presence and growth of some epicaridean ectoparasites causes swelling or deformation of the cuticle of their hosts, often in the branchial region of decapod crustaceans, which are relatively easy to recognize even in the fossil record 4 , 6 , 8 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A common way to recognize paleo-parasitism in the absence of body fossils of parasites is to identify the traces of structures formed as a result of the interaction between parasite and host 8 . The presence and growth of some epicaridean ectoparasites causes swelling or deformation of the cuticle of their hosts, often in the branchial region of decapod crustaceans, which are relatively easy to recognize even in the fossil record 4 , 6 , 8 . The oldest undisputed fossil epicaridean swellings are known from the Jurassic (Oxfordian, Late Jurassic, 163–157.3 Ma) for hosts in Anomura and Brachyura 4 , 16 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

110-million-years-old fossil suggests early parasitism in shrimps

Lima,

Alencar,

Santana

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Direct evidence of paleo-parasitism in crustaceans is very scarce. Epicaridean isopods are obligatory parasites of crustaceans, including decapods such as crabs, shrimps, and lobsters. Their interaction with hosts is known from fossils as far back as the Jurassic through deformations of the branchial cuticle on the hosts. Their small size and low fossilization potential, outside of those larvae that have been found in amber, makes understanding the group’s evolution challenging. Here, we report the oldest evidence of paleo-parasitism in marine shrimps and an imprint of a putative adult parasite that appears to be an epicaridean isopod. Our results suggest that the parasite–host interaction between epicaridean isopods and marine shrimps started at least 110 million years ago, and the Tethys Sea was a possible dispersal pathway for this lineage of parasites during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, as known for other marine organisms through most of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The oldest fossil records of bopyrid swellings associated with a large number of decapods from the Jurassic in Europe suggest that the Tethys region was a center of epicaridean distribution as a whole. Recent parasitic isopods found on dendrobranchiate shrimps are restricted to the Indo-Pacific and may represent a relict group of a lineage of parasites more widely distributed in the Mesozoic.

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“…These traces are inferred to be induced by parasitic epicaridean isopods that commonly produce identical traces on modern decapods [ 11 ]. These distinct fossil swellings have been found on diverse decapod fossils since an early peak in the number of parasitized host species in the Late Jurassic, found predominantly in Europe [ 20 ]. Likely using the Tethys as a dispersal pathway, K .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the preservation of a parasitic trace in decapod crustaceans using finite elements analysis

Wright,

Klompmaker,

Petsios

2024

PLoS ONE

0

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The fossil record of parasitism is poorly understood, due largely to the scarcity of strong fossil evidence of parasites. Understanding the preservation potential for fossil parasitic evidence is critical to contextualizing the fossil record of parasitism. Here, we present the first use of X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning and finite elements analysis (FEA) to analyze the impact of a parasite-induced fossil trace on host preservation. Four fossil and three modern decapod crustacean specimens with branchial swellings attributed to an epicaridean isopod parasite were CT scanned and examined with FEA to assess differences in the magnitude and distribution of stress between normal and swollen branchial chambers. The results of the FEA show highly localized stress peaks in reaction to point forces, with higher peak stress on the swollen branchial chamber for nearly all specimens and different forces applied, suggesting a possible shape-related decrease in the preservation potential of these parasitic swellings. Broader application of these methods as well as advances in the application of 3D data analysis in paleontology are critical to understanding the fossil record of parasitism and other poorly represented fossil groups.

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“…These traces are inferred to be induced by parasitic epicaridean isopods that commonly produce identical traces on modern decapods [11]. These distinct fossil swellings have been found on diverse decapod fossils since an early peak in the number of parasitized host species in the Late Jurassic, found predominantly in Europe [20]. Likely using the Tethys as a dispersal pathway, K. crusta has been observed on decapod fossils globally through the Cretaceous and Cenozoic, although with lower host diversity than seen in the Late Jurassic [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the preservation of a parasitic trace in decapod crustaceans using finite elements analysis

Wright,

Klompmaker,

Petsios

2023

Preprint

0

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The fossil record of parasitism is poorly understood, due largely to the scarcity of strong fossil evidence of parasites. Understanding the preservation potential for fossil parasitic evidence is critical to contextualizing the fossil record of parasitism. Here, we present the first use of X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning and finite elements analysis (FEA) to analyze the impact of a parasite-induced fossil trace on host preservation. Four fossil and three modern decapod crustacean specimens with branchial swellings attributed to an epicaridean isopod parasite were CT scanned and examined with FEA to assess differences in the magnitude and distribution of stress between normal and swollen branchial chambers. The results of the FEA show highly localized stress peaks in reaction to point forces, with higher peak stress on the swollen branchial chamber for nearly all specimens and different forces applied, suggesting a possible shape-related decrease in the preservation potential of these parasitic swellings. Broader application of these methods as well as advances in the application of 3D data analysis in paleontology are critical to understanding the fossil record of parasitism and other poorly represented fossil groups.

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Crustaceans as Hosts of Parasites Throughout the Phanerozoic

Cited by 12 publications

References 153 publications

110-million-years-old fossil suggests early parasitism in shrimps

110-million-years-old fossil suggests early parasitism in shrimps

Exploring the preservation of a parasitic trace in decapod crustaceans using finite elements analysis

Exploring the preservation of a parasitic trace in decapod crustaceans using finite elements analysis

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