#dendrogaster

[chameleocoonj]

🦐🦞🦀Merry Crabmas!🦀🦞🦐

Well... kind of. These aren't crabs but they are crustaceans, parasitic ones! I found a fish louse at my work and I thought it was soooooo cute I had to draw it with some friends. Details under the cut!

Sacculina-- group: barnacles, host: crabs

Cancrion-- group: isopod, host: crabs, larva and adult males pictured

Cymothoa-- group: isopod, host: fish, the "tongue eating louse"

Cyprids-- larval stage of barnacles

Nauplius-- larval stage of many crustaceans

Dendrogaster-- closest group: barnacles, host: seastars

Lernaea-- group: copepods, host: fish, the "anchor worm"

Anelasma-- group: barnacles, host: lantern sharks

Lepeophtheirus-- group: copepods, host: fish

Ommatokoita-- group: copepods, host: greenland sharks

Argulus-- group: fish lice, host: fish

The groups I've labelled these as are pretty broad and a lot more complicated when you get into the details, but rest assured they are all currently types of crustaceans! Anchor worms and Argulus fish lice are the species most people would be most likely to encounter as they are common in the aquarium hobby. The others here are a bit more specialized and mostly marine. I also used some generic barnacles as filler, but it should be noted that not all barnacles are considered parasitic.

I could talk about these guys all day, but I think it might be more fun to go on your own wikipedia journey!! <3

[kingjaspy]

dendrogaster

[nightjar-jack]

"What Am I to You?" Feb. 2025 10"x 8" digital illustrations printed on photo paper A search driven by a want, a need, to understand what makes a parasite; how we perceive them, how we interact with them, how we become them.

Finally! Here are the finished set of illustrations that were created in tandem with a research based project I made for a studio class.

The accompanying zine I made can be found here!

[pencilbrony]

DendroGaster in the spine suit

[k25ff]

I'm sure people have heard of dendrogasters, which are a group of endoparasitic barnacles that grow inside starfish. What a lovely concept. The self is a shell. (1716)

[thefoilguy]

Dendrogaster - Aluminum Foil Sculpture

[wyverewings]

weird mermaids: arthropods

[sclappin]

Caught up now on drawing requests for Dr. Al-Deeb's fundraiser.

Furiosa from Mad Max for @dendrogaster

My coworker Marty in his work costume, (requested through text message).

A Durge, Rylzyne, for @lewvithur

And @yourtauntaunwillfreeze 's lovely partner!

Going to continue doing this until Friday! We've raised at least €230, though there have been a lot more donations than drawing requests according to the notes, which is honestly fantastic. Thank you so much to everyone donating!