Lepeophtheirus pectoralis Lepeophtheirus pectoralis Lepeophtheirus pectoralis is a species of parasitic copepod. It is a parasite of flatfish, the most frequent hosts being the European flounder ("Platichthys flesus"), the plaice ("Pleuronectes platessa"), and the dab ("Limanda limanda"). It feeds on the mucus, skin and blood of the fish, with oviferous females being found in the pectoral and pelvic fins of the host, while immature individuals and males are found in the rest of the body. Its life cycle consists of five phases and ten stages. The first two stages are free swimming nauplius I and II, while the third stage is the
Pacific sanddab Pacific sanddab The Pacific sanddab ("Citharichthys sordidus") is a species of flatfish. It is by far the most common sanddab, and it shares its habitat with the longfin sanddab ("C. xanthostigma") and the speckled sanddab ("C. stigmaeus"). It is a medium-sized flatfish, with a light brown color mottled brown or black, occasionally with white or orange spots. The Pacific sanddab is endemic to the northern Pacific Ocean, from the Sea of Japan to the coast of California. They are most commonly found at depths of , though the young inhabit shallower waters, occasionally moving into tide pools. It is an