Anilocra physodes

João Pedro Silva Anilocra physodes is an isopod crustacean from the Atlantic and Mediterranean which parasites several species of fish. The legs are converted into hooks to better hang on to their host. They're often found in pairs, a male and a female being the latter larger. Depending on the host, they can be more difficult to photograph. In this case, a scorpionfish (Scorpaena notata) makes it a lot easier as it rarely moves. Canon EOS 350D in Ikelite housing, Canon 100mm macro, 2x Nikonos SB-105 strobes, f/20, 1/200s, ISO 100.

Vinh Lam I found this guy on a Rock Cook I caught in Lisbon on Saturday. Any idea what species it is? From web searching, I think it is Anilocra physodes or A. frontalis. It seems very hard to find any information on these.

Michelle Hooper Certainly one of the above - they give me the creeps! :)

Vinh Lam With further research, I now believe this is A. frontalis. A. frontalis, attached on head above the eye, more commonly on Labridae. A. physolde, attached on the sides or caudal penduncle, more commonly on Sparidae also The two Anilocra were distinguished using two criteria: 1) The anterior end of the head is truncated in A. physodes and rounded in A. frontalis, 2) Endopodits of uropods slightly surpass the distal part of the pleotelson in A. physodes but distinctly surpass in A. frontalis.