Brief note on the infestation of pedunculate barnacles in crabs

An investigation was made to isolate and identify parasites from Charybdis lucifera landed at Cochin Fisheries Harbour in January, 2018. The carapace, branchial chambers and gills of each crab was observed for the presence of octolasmids. Octolasmis spp. are generally known as stalked barnacles or pedunculate barnacles. They are common in shallow waters and often found attached to the exoskeleton of the decapod crustacea, including crabs. This can affect the marketing of such infected commercially important crabs.