From Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuges:
EWW, what's on that whale?!
This close up of whale skin shows a community of living creatures. Gray Whales have two common hitchhikers on their bodies: barnacles and whale LICE.
But whale lice aren’t lice at all; they're a type of crustacean called cyamids. And each species of cyamid is unique to a species of whale! To survive cyamids hitch a ride on a whale and munch bits of its skin and flesh. If the whale is healthy these parasites don't harm it - a commensal relationship. If a whale is covered in them it is often an indication of illness or injury.
Photo by refuge volunteer Roy W. Lowe.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.