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July 12, 2012 01:05 am

Bloodsucking Parasite Named After Bob Marley

Hugh Pickens writes writes "The Christian Science Monitor reports that Gnathia marleyi, a tiny crustacean that feeds off the blood of reef-dwelling Caribbean fish, has been named in honor – for lack of a better term – of the Jamaican musician Bob Marley. Marley, who died in 1981, was an iconic exponent of the Jamaican-born music known as reggae. One of his standards is "No Woman, No Cry." Marley joins the "I have a species named after me" club that includes Barack Obama, Stephen Colbert, Mick Jagger,and Beyonce. "I named this species, which is truly a natural wonder, after Marley because of my respect and admiration for Marley's music," says Paul Sikkel, an assistant professor of marine ecology at Arkansas State University. "Plus, this species is as uniquely Caribbean as was Marley." Juvenile gnathid isopods hide within coral rubble or algae so they can launch surprise attacks on fish, and then infest them. As adults, the parasites don't eat. "We believe that adults subsist for two to three weeks on the last feedings they had as juveniles and then die, hopefully after they have reproduced," says Sikkel. Specimens of Gnathia marleyi will be housed indefinitely at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. "We are currently discussing with AMNH the possibility of creating an exhibit featuring this species that could be viewed by the public,.""

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