Briarosaccus regalis  (Parasitic Barnacle)

© Aaron Baldwin (Photo ID #95592)

Photographer's Submitted Details

Photo Location	NorthChatham Strait, Southeastern Alaska
Photographer	Aaron Baldwin
Habitat	Parasitic on red and blue king crabs (Paralithodes spp.)
Photo Date	June 30, 2016
Upload Date	July 01, 2016
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Photo ID #	95592
Comments	This is the recently described rhizocephalan barnacle that appears to only infect king crabs of the genus Paralithodes. Formerly this species and Briarosaccus aurantum were both thought to be members of the cosmopolitan species B. callosus (which does not appear to occur in the north Pacific) until genetic studies showed them to be cryptic species.