Sikkel and his team have sent some to the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

CNN: Newly discovered ocean critter named after Bob Marley

Sikkel's team is studying the relationship between coral reef destruction and the parasites.

CNN: Newly discovered ocean critter named after Bob Marley

Sikkel describes his research in the June 6 edition of Zootaxia, a journal for animal taxonomists (folks who classify species).

CNN: Newly discovered ocean critter named after Bob Marley

Paul Sikkel, an assistant professor of marine ecology and a field marine biologist at Arkansas State University, discovered the creature and decided to honor the musician.

CNN: Newly discovered ocean critter named after Bob Marley

"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, " Sikkel said.

CNN: Newly discovered ocean critter named after Bob Marley