New records of association between Brachyscelus cf. rapacoides (Arthropoda: Amphipoda) and medusae (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa and Hydrozoa) from São Sebastião Channel, southeast Brazil

Abstract

Amphipoda is one of the most representative groups of marine symbiotic crustaceans, many species are associated as symbionts or parasites of other organisms including cnidarians, mollusks, other crustaceans, tunicates, as well as fishes, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales (LeCroy et al., 2009). According to Laval (1980), hyperiids represent a remarkable lineage of amphipods that are adapted to live as holoplanktonic forms that evolved from benthic ancestors, and use as a substratum, shelter and source of food other pelagic organisms, mainly gelatinous zooplankters, at least during the first part of their life cycle. The nature of this association depends on the hyperiid species and varies according to hydrological and biological factors such as season, abundance and size of hosts, temperature, and parasite life cycle (Dittrich, 1987;1992). These interactions have been characterized with different levels of detail and reported under different terms such as