chondracanthids
Chondracanthids are a family of parasitic crustaceans belonging to the order Poecilostomatoida. These parasites are obligate ectoparasites, meaning they live on the external surface of their host and cannot survive independently. Chondracanthids primarily infect marine fish. They are characterized by their extreme sexual dimorphism, where the females are much larger and more robust than the males. The females attach themselves firmly to the host fish, often burrowing their cephalic appendages into the host's tissues. Their bodies are typically sac-like or club-shaped.
The life cycle of chondracanthids involves a free-swimming larval stage that infects a new host. Once attached,