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Scientific Name: Ergasilus piriformis El-Rashidy & Boxshall, 2002
English Name: Gill Maggot
Local/Bangla Name: Ankta Poca (আংটা পোকা)
Zooplankton : Ergasilus piriformis

Photo: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology (iNaturalist)

Classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Copepoda
Order: Cyclopoida
Family: Ergasilidae
Description:
This organism displays a distinctive pear-shaped and inflated cephalothorax, with circular and inverted T-shaped markings on its cephalic shield. Its antennae feature diagonal striations on their surface, and the mandible exhibits anterior, middle, and posterior blades. The maxillule is lobate and carries outer setae along with a small medial process. Additionally, it possesses a five-segmented antennule situated on a small pedestal, while the antennae themselves consist of four segments, including a short coxobasis and a small claw. The maxilla is adorned with rows of sharp teeth. Furthermore, the anal somite shows a deep incision, and the caudal rami are longer than the anal somite. Notably, the egg sacs of this organism resemble corn in their appearance.
Habitat & Distribution in Bangladesh:
Its free-living larval forms serve as zooplankton feed for the fish.
Environment:
Freshwater, Brackish, Marine
Comments:
Its free-living larval forms serve as zooplankton feed for the fish.
Main References:

Ahmed ATA, Kabir SMH, Ahmad M, Rahman AKA, Haque EU, Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT, Hassan MA, Khondker M (eds.) (2008) Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Vol. 18. Part II. Arthropoda: Crustacea. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka, 226 pp

DNA Barcodes from Bangladesh
GenBank Accession Number:
Other DNA Barcodes & Nucleutide Sequences
Global IUCN conservation status:
Other Information