Copepoda associated with the coral Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) on the Great Barrier Reef,northeastern Australia

Three new lichomolgid copepods associated with the scleractinian Gardineroseris planulata (Dana) are described: Sociellus torus, n. gen., n. sp., characterized by a 2-segmented endopod in leg 3 and the lack of an inner seta on the first segment of the endopod in legs 1–3; Odontomolgus pumilus, n. sp., of very small size and having a much elongated free segment in leg 5 of the female; and Paramolgus ampullaceus, n. sp., distinguished by the bottle-shaped genital segment of the female. In addition, the harpacticoid Alteuthellopsis corallina Humes, 1981, is reported from this coral. With the inclusion of 3 species of the poecilostomatoid genus Xarifia already described (Humes, 1985) there are now 7 species of copepods known to be associated with Gardineroseris planulata on the Great Barrier Reef.     

Copepoda (cyclopoida,Lichomolgidae) associated with the Alcyonacean Nephthea in the moluccas

In the Moluccas five lichomolgid copepods are associated with soft corals of the genus Nephthea. Paramolgus nephtheanus, n. sp., from Nephthea chabrolii, Nephthea sphaerophora, Nephthea cupressiformis, Nephthea albida, and Nephthea galbuloides, Paramolgus prominulus, n. sp., from N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, and N. albida, and Paramolgus accinctus, n. sp., from N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, N. albida, and N. galbuloides are distinguished from conspecifics by combinations of several characters. These include, among others, the length of the caudal ramus, the form of the female genital segment, and the shape of leg 5 in the female. Mecra ellipsaria, n. gen., n. sp., from N. sphaerophora has only two setae on the fourth segment of the first antenna, the formula II, 2 on the third endopod segment of leg 3, and five aesthetes on the second segment of the first antenna of the male. In Metaxymolgus lumarius, n. sp., from N. galbuloides and N. cupressiformis, the two claws on the second antenna are longer than the fourth second antennal segment and the proximal inner expansion of leg 5 in the female has a thorn-like process. Metaxymolgus aculeatus (Humes & Ho, 1968) occurs on N. chabrolii, N. sphaerophora, N. cupressiformis, N. albida, and N. galbuloides.     

A new species of Pseudomacrochiron Reddiah, 1969 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Macrochironidae) associated with scyphistomae of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) off Japan

A new species of the Macrochironidae Humes & Boxshall, 1996 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida), Pseudomacrochiron aureliae n. sp., is described based on adult specimens extracted from the gastrovacular cavity of the scyphistomae of Aurelia sp. (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) collected in the Seto Inland Sea and Ise Bay off the coast of Japan. The new species differs from its congeners by having the following combination of characters: a caudal ramus with a length to width ratio of 3.1; an accessory flagellum on caudal setae II, III and VI; three apical setae on the maxillule; only setae I and II on the maxillary basis; two short spines on the female maxilliped claw (endopod); an armature of III, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of I, II, 2 on the terminal endopodal segment of leg 3; an armature of II, I, 4 on the terminal exopodal segment of leg 4; and a short free exopodal segment of leg 5 (length to width ratio of 1.4) armed with a long seta and short spine. P. aureliae n. sp. is the first member of the genus reported from off Japan and from the scyphistomae of its scyphozoan host.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Orstomella yaliuensis</Emphasis> n. sp., a xarifiid copepod (Crustacea) parasitic in the polyps of hump coral <Emphasis Type="Italic">Porites lutea</Emphasis> Milne Edwards &; Haime off Taiwan

A new species of xarifiid copepod, Orstomella yaliuensis n. sp., is described. It was found living in the polyps of a scleractinian coral, Porites lutea Milne Edwards & Haime, collected off Yaliu in the northern part of Taiwan. The new species can be distinguished from its two congeners, O. faviae Humes & Ho, 1968 and O. lobophylliae Humes & Ho, 1968, by the presence of five (rather than six) segments on the antennule, a spine only (rather than a seta and a spine) at the tip of the antenna, a uniramous leg 2, and a relatively long (rather than short) spine at the tip of the caudal ramus.     

Revisiting the octopicolid copepods (Octopicolidae: Octopicola Humes, 1957): comparative morphology and an updated key to species

A review of the present state of knowledge on the octopicolid copepods (Octopicolidae: Octopicola Humes, 1957) is presented. Characteristic morphological features are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs of Octopicola superba superba Humes, 1957. Comparative morphology analysis led to the conclusion that there is sufficient evidence to justify raising the two subspecies of O. superba to full species rank. A new identification key for the four species of Octopicola Humes, 1957, i.e. O. superba Humes, 1957, O. antillensis Stock, Humes & Gooding, 1963, O. stocki Humes, 1963 and O. regalis Humes, 1974, is proposed after evaluation of the morphological characters which vary more markedly between them. Among other characters, these species differ in the ornamentation of the third antennal segment, maxilla and male maxilliped. They are further distinguished by a combination of several character states concerning the fifth pedigerous somite.     

Anthessius spp. (Anthessiidae) associated with Tridacnidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) removed to a new genus Tridachnophilus

Genus Anthessius includes 36 species. Previous attempts to clarify the interspecific affinities reached no definite conclusions. Humes and Ho (1965) found that, based on the armature of the third exopod segment of the fourth leg, the known species could be arranged into two groups, but that this difference did not correspond with host preferences. The present study of A. alatus Humes and Stock shows that species of Anthessius associated with Tridacnidae differ from the rest (except A. fitchi Illg) in the marked indentation of the cephalosome and in the presence of well developed cephalosomal and metasomal epimeral lobes producing a very characteristic shape. They are here removed to a new genus, Tridachnophilus.     

A new species of Anuretes Heller, 1865 (Copepoda: Caligidae) from the yellowbanded sweetlips Plectorhinchus lineatus (Haemulidae) off New Caledonia

A new species of caligid copepod, Anuretes justinei n. sp., is described from off New Caledonia. It is parasitic on the gill filaments of a haemulid fish, the yellowbanded sweetlips Plectorhinchus lineatus (Linnaeus). The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following character states: (1) the fourth pedigerous somite is covered dorsally by the expanded free posterior margin of the cephalothorax; (2) a maxillary whip is present; (3) the relatively small genital complex is less than half the length of the cephalothorax; (4) leg 3 is armed with nine setae on the terminal exopodal segment and six setae on the terminal endopodal segment; and (5) leg 4 is long and slender with a setal armature of I, III twisted spines. The new species is an addition to the possibly monophyletic group of seven species that is characterised by the possession of a maxillary whip, all of which are found on haemulid hosts. The host-specificity of Anuretes is relatively high, its species being largely parasitic on reef-associated fishes, such as the families Haemulidae (eight species), Ephippidae (four species), Acanthuridae (four species) and Pomacanthidae (one species).     

Giselinidae fam. nov., a new monophyletic group of cyclopoid copepods (Copepoda, Crustacea) from the Atlantic deep sea

Four new species of Cyclopoida from deep-sea waters are described and placed in two new genera: Giselina gen. n. and Sensogiselina gen. n. The new genera and species belong to a new monophyletic group within the cyclopinid cyclopoids. A new name, Giselinidae, is proposed for this monophylum. The new family is characterised by the combination of the following characters: (1) tergite of leg 1 fused to cephalosome dorsally, but incompletely fused laterally, (2) absence of aesthetascs on ancestral antennulary segments XVI, XXI and XXV, (3) absence of antennary exopodal setae, (4) presence of only three spines on distal exopodal segment of leg 1, (5) absence of inner setae on first endopodal segments of legs 1–4, (6) outer terminal and distal inner elements of distal endopodal segment of leg 4 transformed into spines, (7) distal outer element of leg 5 exopod transformed into a spine, (8) leg 6 with only one seta, and (9) furcal setae I and III located on dorsal margin. Received in revised form: 16 June 2000 Electronic Publication     

Anthessius kimjensis,a new species of Anthessiidae (Copepoda; Poecilostomatoida) associated with the pelecypod Solen grandis Dunker in Korea

Anthessius kimjensis n. sp. is described based on the specimens recovered from the pelecypod Solen grandis Dunker in the Korean coast of the Yellow Sea. The new species is distinguished from congeners by having a combination of characters: setal formula II, I, 5 on distal segment of leg 4 exopod, three terminal hooks on distal segment of second antenna, and ratio of length to width on caudal ramus (2.2:1).     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudopandarus</Emphasis> Kirtisinghe, 1950 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Pandaridae) from sharks of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Squalus</Emphasis> L. in New Caledonian waters

Both sexes of a new species of pandarid copepod are described from sharks of the genus Squalus L. (Squaliformes: Squalidae). Specimens of Pseudopandarus cairae n. sp. were collected from Squalus bucephalus Last, Séret & Pogonoski and S. melanurus Fourmanoir & Rivaton in New Caledonian waters, the first parasitic copepod to be described from either host species. This is the eighth nominal species of Pseudopandarus Kirtisinghe, 1950 and the first to be described from a shark of the order Squaliformes. Pseudopandarus cairae n. sp. is easily distinguished from P. australis Cressey & Simpfendorfer, 1988, P. longus (Gnanamuthu, 1951) Cressey, 1967, and P. pelagicus Rangnekar, 1977 in having the female genital complex concealed beneath an elongate dorsal genital shield with a trilobed posterior margin. It can be distinguished from P. gracilis Kirtisinghe, 1950 and P. scyllii Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1959 by the armature of the leg 4 endopod and by the proportions of the dorsal genital shield. The new species is unique among known species of Pseudopandarus in its possession of only 1 setal element on the distal endopod segment of leg 4. In addition to describing the new species, the host associations of all species of Pseudopandarus are reviewed and observations are made regarding sexual dimorphism and mode of attachment. A key to the species considered valid is provided.     

Intertidal interstitial Halicyclops from the Brazilian coast (Copepoda: Cyclopoida)

H. tageae sp. n. and Halicyclops ytororoma sp. n. are described from the intertidal interstitial water of Brazilian beaches. H. tageae is distinguished from all congeneric species by the number of setae on legs 1–4 endopodite 2 (1, 1, 2, 2) and by possessing a reduced inner spine on the leg 5 exopodite. It shares with H. brevispinosus, H. pusillus and H. canui the spine formula 2, 3, 3, 3 on exopodite 3 of swimming legs 1–4. H. ytororoma closely resembles H. gauldi and differs from this species by having 4 setae on leg 1 endopodite 3; H. gauldi has 3 setae on this segment.This is the first record of Halicyclops from marine interstitial water in Brazil.     

Siphonostomatoid copepods (Asterocheridae) associated with the sponge Dysidea in the Moluccas

Four new asterocherid copepods are reported from the sponge Dysidea at Pulau Gomumu, south of Obi, in the Moluccas. The copepods include: Asterocheres dysideae n. sp. (with a pointed postero-ventral process and a ventral setule on the caudal ramus); Parasterocheres cristatus, n. g., n. sp. (with a ridge on the free segment of leg 5 and ventral folds bearing spinules on the cephalosome); Phyllocheres petalus n. g., n. sp. (with a broad flattened leaf-like prosome, the second segment of the endopod of legs 1–4 with 2,2,2,2, and the third segment of the exopod of leg 1 with III,I,3); and Gomumucheres angularis n. g., n. sp. (with the second segment of the endopods of legs 1–4 with 2,2,1,1).     

A reappraisal of the genus Phyllodiaptomus Kiefer, 1936, with the description of P. wellekensae n.sp. from India,and a redescription of P. tunguidus Shen & Tai, 1964 from China (Copepoda,Calanoida)

Phyllodiaptomus wellekensae n. sp. is described from south India. In the female, the genital somite is dilated at the left proximal margin and armed with an extraordinarily large, somewhat curved, laterally-directed spine; the right genital spine is much smaller than the left one. The terminal claw of leg 5 has a secretory pore at its tip and a characteristic conveyor canal on its anterior surface. In the right male P5, the coxal plate is short and unique in shape. The basis is 1.3 times as long as wide, with a long, sinuous, hyaline lamella on its medial margin. The first exopodite segment is short and optuse at its outer distal corner. The second segment is rectangular and has a short, hyaline, spinous projection between the lateral spine and the terminal claw. The left P5 has a large, serrate, hyaline fan between its apical thumb and medial apical seta. P. tunguidus is redescribed based on material newly collected from three localities in China.     

Naricolax insolitus n. sp., a bomolochid copepod (Poecilostomatoida) parasitic in the nasal cavities of silver pomfret Pampus argenteus off Taiwan

A new species of bomolochid copepod (Poecilostomatoida), Naricolax insolitus n. sp., parasitic in the nasal cavities of the silver pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) from the Strait of Taiwan is described. The new species is distinguished from its only known congener, N. atypicus Ho, Do & Kasahara, 1983, by possessing the following four apomorphic features: (1) a complex outgrowth on the egg-sac attachment area; (2) a bent egg-sac; (3) a sharp hook (modified seta V) on the caudal ramus; and (4) an armature of II,I,4 (instead of II,I,5) on the terminal segment of leg 4 exopod. This is the first record of parasitic copepod from the nasal cavities of the silver pomfret.     

Two new species of poecilostomatoid copepods symbiotic on the venomous echinoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxopneustes pileolus</Emphasis> (Lamarck) (Echinodermata) from Vietnam

Two new coexisting species of crustacean copepods (Poecilostomatoida) belonging to the echinoid-specific genera Mecomerinx Humes, 1977 (Pseudanthessiidae) and Clavisodalis Humes, 1970 (Taeniacanthidae) found associated with the venomous flower urchin Toxopneustes pileolus (Lamarck) (Echinodermata: Echinoidea: Toxopneustidae) in the South China Sea (Vietnam) are described. The diagnostic features of Mecomerinx ohtsukai n. sp. are: (i) three setae and one aesthetasc on the first segment of antennules; (ii) relatively long caudal ramus; (iii) elongated terminal segment of the antenna; and (iv) two claws on the terminal segment of antenna slightly unequal in length. The taeniacanthid copepod Clavisodalis toxopneusti n. sp. is distinguished from all seven known congeners by having two-segmented endopod of the legs 2–4 and four setae on the distal endopodal segment of the leg 1. This is the first report on copepods associated with echinoids of the genus Toxopneustes Agassiz and the first finding of Mecomerinx as well as taeniacanthid copepods in the South China Sea associated with echinoids.     

Cystacanths of Acanthocephala in notothenioid fish from the Beagle Channel (sub-Antarctica)

The morphology of relaxed cystacanths of polymorphid acanthocephalans collected from notothenioid fishes in the Beagle Channel (Magellanic subregion of sub-Antarctica) is described. A parasite of birds, Andracantha baylisi (Zdzitowiecki, 1986), was found in Patagonotothen longipes and Champsocephalus esox. It has: a proboscis 0.82–0.89 mm long; a proboscis hook formula of 16 rows of 9/10–10/11, including 4–5 basal hooks; distal hooks with the longest blades; a fore-trunk not separated from the hind-trunk by a constriction; large somatic spines arranged in two zones separated by a zone of small, loosely dispersed spines; and only the anterior 36–40% of ventral side of the trunk is covered with spines. One male specimen of Corynosoma sp. was found in Patagonotothen tessellata. It differs from A. baylisi in that the distal proboscis hooks are similar in length to the prebasal hooks, it has a smaller proboscis (0.77 mm) and in the distribution of the somatic spines, which are contiguous with the genital spines on the ventral side of the trunk and lack a zone of small spines between zones of larger spines. A parasite of seals and fur seals, Corynosoma evae Zdzitowiecki, 1984, was found in P. longipes and Champsocephalus esox. It has: a proboscis 0.61–0.78 mm long; a proboscis hook formula of 20–22 rows of 12–13, including 3/4–4 basal hooks; prebasal hooks with the longest blades; a trunk divided into fore-trunk and hind-trunk; somatic spines covering the anterior 64–74% of the ventral side of the trunk; genital spines present only in males; and a terminal genital opening in both sexes. Corynosoma beaglense n. sp. was found in Champsocephalus esox. It has: an almost cylindrical proboscis (length 0.52–0.56 mm); a proboscis hook formula of 16 rows of 9/10–10/11, including 4–4/5 basal hooks; distal hooks shorter than the prebasal hooks; a fore-trunk not separated from the hind-trunk by a constriction; somatic spines contiguous with the genital spines on the ventral side of the trunk of the male and covering the entire length of the ventral side of the female trunk, and the presence of genital spines surrounding the terminal genital pore of the male. The definitive host of this species is unknown.     

A poecilostome copepod parasitic in a scleractinian coral in the moluccas

Wedanus inconstans, n. gen., n. sp., a lichomolgid copepod living in the polyps of the reef coral Goniopora tenuidens (Quelch), is described from Halmahera in the Moluccas. The genus is apparently related to Xenomolgus Humes & Stock, 1972.     

A new species of the deep‐sea copepod genus Scutogerulus (Calanoida: Arietellidae) from the hyperbenthic waters of Okinawa,Japan

A new species of the rare arietellid genus Scutogerulus is described from deep hyperbenthic waters off Okinawa, southwestern Japan. This is the second species of the genus. Phylogenetically significant characteristics known only on the basis of the type species are confirmed by the discovery of the new congener, in particular: (1) the genital system of the female exhibits the most plesiomorphic condition of any arietellid genus; (2) the well developed setae on the endopodal segments of the maxillae and maxillipeds are modified into ‘shield‐like setae’ similar to the ‘button setae’ in another arietelloidean family, the Augaptilidae; (3) the outer distal spine on the first exopodal segment of leg 1 is absent.     

Mongolodiaptomus dumonti n. sp., a new freshwater copepod (Calanoida,Diaptomidae) from Thailand

Mongolodiaptomus dumonti n. sp. from several localities in northeast Thailand is described and figured. The new species shares some features with Mongolodiaptomus gladiolus (Shen & Lee), M. calcarus (Shen & Tai) and M. rarus (Reddy, Sanoamuang & Dumont), thus the gladiolus-group is created. However, it stands out in the female, by the extraordinary large postero-laterally spine at left proximal margin of genital somite. In the male, the right caudal ramus has a large tooth and a bilobed knob on ventral side; basis of the right P5 has a distinct, spur-like process on mid-distal surface; the second exopodite-segment of the right P5 has characteristically irregular outer margin, enlarged at proximal 1/3, but narrowed at distal 2/3 and bearing three lateral spines of unequal sizes; the inner margin of basis of the left P5 is fringed with a narrow hyaline lamella and dilated distally in lateral angle.