Sylon Hippolytes
''Sylon hippolytes'' is a castrating parasite that infects the shrimp '' Pandalina brevirostris''. Structure The adult female parasite consists of a body that can be differentiated into two distinct regions: a sac-like structure containing the reproductive organs (the externa), and a trophic, root like system situated inside the hosts body (the interna). It forms an elongated, sac-like growth on the abdomen of several shrimp species, measuring up to 1.2 centimeters in diameter. ''S. hippolytes'' castrates infected female shrimp by absorbing the reproductive energy of the host. Many other Rhizocephalan have the same castrating characteristic. The presence of the parasite will eventually come to pass after it dies, and the castrating mechanism is reversed for the host. Life cycle ''Sylon hippolytes'' typically lives up to a maximum of one year. Reproduction ''Sylon hippolytes'' are r-strategists. An externa can only produce offspring once during its lifetime. Therefore, ...
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