The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 04 (of 10)Warburton, Cecil
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 04 (of 10)
Warburton, Cecil
Animals
Much remains to be elucidated in the life-histories of these curious
animals, and it seems probable that intermediate stages may exist,
showing us how the extreme discontinuity of development has been
reached. Suggestive in this respect is the newly discovered parasite of
the Isopod, _Calathura_, which the author has named _Duplorbis
calathurae_.[73] This animal does not appear to possess a root-system,
but is attached to its host by a tube which passes right through the
mesentery and opens into the mantle-cavity of the parasite. It may be
suggested that this tube corresponds to the stalk of the normal
Cirripede, but its exact mode of formation would certainly throw much
light on the question of Rhizocephalan development.
=Phenomena of Growth and Sex in the Crustacea.=
In the foregoing account of the Cirripedia we have met with certain
peculiar sexual relations in which closely allied species exhibit marked
differences in regard to the distribution of the qualities of sex among
their individuals; we have seen that the majority of species are
hermaphrodite, unlike most Crustacea which, with the other exception of
the parasitic Isopoda, are normally dioecious; and that in some species
complemental males exist side by side with the hermaphrodites, while, in
yet others, the individuals are either females or dwarf males.
Before examining the causes of these conditions, it will be opportune to
consider a number of facts which throw light on the question of sex and
hermaphroditism in general. We may then return to the discussion of the
hermaphroditism found in particular in the Cirripedia and Isopoda.
=Parasitic Castration.=—Giard[74] was the first to observe that a number
of parasites exert a remarkable influence on the sexual characters of
their host, such that the generative glands become reduced, or may
completely degenerate, while the secondary sexual characters become
materially altered. This was proved to occur in the most widely
different hosts, affected by the most widely different parasites (_e.g._
Crustacea, Insecta, Worms). Moreover, it was apparent that the affection
does not consist in the parasite merely destroying the generative
organs, with which it often does not come into contact, but rather in
the general disturbance of the metabolism set up by its presence.
The most completely studied cases of parasitic castration are those of
the Rhizocephalous _Sacculina neglecta_, parasitic on the spider-crab,
_Inachus mauritanicus_,[75] and of _Peltogaster curvatus_ on the
Hermit-crab, _Eupagurus excavatus_, var. _meticulosa_.[76] The ordinary
males of _I. mauritanicus_ have the appearance shown in Fig. 72, A. The
abdomen is small and bears a pair of copulatory styles, while the
chelipedes are long and swollen. In the female (B) the abdomen is much
larger and trough-shaped, and carries four pairs of ovigerous
appendages; the chelae are small and narrow.
[Illustration:
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