What is that yellow blob growing on that crab?? It’s a parasitic barnacle (called a Rhizocephalan) that plays a bit of mind-control on its host. First, it destroys the crab’s genitals. And if that weren’t bad enough, it attaches itself onto its host and changes the crab’s behavior so it cares for the parasite as if it were its own young!
Marine parasites are pretty crazy, don’t you think? So does Smithsonian parasite researcher Katrina Lohan, who wrote a list of crazy and cool facts about marine parasites. Check it out!
Photo Credit: Hans Hillewaert
