Bob Marley: A Parasitic Crustacean Named After Marley

Bob Marley

A marine biologist named a small crustacean parasite which feeds on fish in Carribean after late Bob Marley, a  reggae legend.

The tiny shell fish which depends on blood for survival lives in the coral reefs of the eastern Caribbean was named  Gnathia marleyi after the Jamaican reggae icon by the biologist made the discovery.

Dr. Paul Sikkel, a field marine biologist at Arkansas State University explained his reasons for the tribute “I named this species, which is truly a natural wonder, after Marley because of my respect and admiration for Marley’s music,” he said. And adding “Plus, this species is as uniquely Caribbean as was Marley,”

The national Science Foundation remarked that the fish wich belongs to the family of Gnathiid isopods is the first of such discovery in the Caribbean in more than two decades.

He also said “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,”