Pea crab Arcotheres alcocki (Rathbun, 1909) as endoparasite of the backwater clam Meretrix casta (Chemnitz, 1782)

Abstract

Occurrence of Arcotheres alcocki (Rathbun, 1909) (synonymous with Pinnotheres alcocki) in the mantle cavity of the backwater clam Meretrix casta (Chemnitz, 1782) of Bahuda and Rushikulya estuaries (Odisha), east coast of India is reported in this paper. It is the first record of A. alcocki occurring as parasite in M. casta from Indian coasts and also the first report on the occurrence of pea crab from Odisha coast. Visible damage to the body tissue of the infested clams was noticed which suggests that the clam fishery of this region is susceptible for parasitic attack by A. alcocki.