A whale louse is a crustacean of the family Cyamidae. Despit…

A whаle lоuse is а crustаcean оf the family Cyamidae. Despite the name, they are nоt true lice (which are insects), but rather are related to the skeleton shrimp, most species of which are found in shallower waters. Whale lice live in external folds of the whale skin, found in skin lesions, genital folds, nostrils and eyes of marine mammals of the order Cetacea. These include not only whales but also dolphins and porpoises. The lice predominantly eat algae that settle on the host's body. They also feed off the flaking skin of the host as well as any dead tissue surrounding wounds. This can cause minor skin damage, but it does not lead to significant illness and so the lice are not considered to have any positive or negative effect on the whales. Which of the following best describes the interaction between the whales and the whale louse? Select only ONE answer choice.