The Life Cycle of Octospiniferoides chandleri Bullock, 1957 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) with Some Observations on Parasite-Induced, Photophilic Behavior in Ostracods

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Abstract
The ostracods Cypridopsis vidua (Mueller, 1776) and Physocypria pustulosa (Sharpe, 1898) became infected with O. chandleri after eating shelled acanthors removed from the pseudocoel of adult, female acanthocephalans. At 23.degree. C, 20 days were required for development to the cystacanth stage and 23-day-old cystacanths were infective to mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. Developmental stages in the ostracod were similar to those described for other neoechinorhynchid acanthocephalans. In the fish host, approximately 30 days were required for development of the parasite to full sexual maturity. Transmission of the parasite to the definitive host was aided by a parasite-induced, positive response to light in ostracod hosts and by transfer of enteric worms through cannibalism in Gambusia.