Parasitic copepods of the family Lernanthropidae Kabata, 1979 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) from Australian fishes, with descriptions of seven new species
Author
Boxshall, Geoff A.
Author
Bernot, James P.
Author
Barton, Diane P.
Author
Diggles, Ben K.
Author
Q-Y, Russell
Author
Atkinson-Coyle, Toby
Author
Hutson, Kate S.
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-02-17
4736
1
1
103
journal article
24025
10.11646/zootaxa.4736.1.1
c76ec731-0dc9-4fc4-8ea4-d90d90da9438
1175-5326
3669745
970D7D36-6D8C-4463-B9EA-D3B8E191BE72
Lernanthropus belones
Krøyer, 1863
(
Fig. 10A
)
Syn:
Lernanthropus chlamydotus
Wilson, 1922
Material examined:
none.
Differential diagnosis:
Cephalothorax longer than wide with linear lateral margins (
Fig. 10A
), widest posteriorly and tapering towards straight anterior margin. Trunk just over twice as long as cephalothorax; anterior part (second and third pedigerous somites) as wide as cephalothorax, with weakly convex margins; posterior part (fourth pedigerous somite) covered by long, cloak-like dorsal trunk plate, flared out laterally and widest towards posterior (
Fig. 10A
). Urosome comprising fused genital complex and abdomen bearing paired caudal rami. Caudal rami short and broad, with bluntly pointed apex; all caudal setae located in distal half of ramus. Leg 3 located ventrolaterally at rear of third pedigerous somite, forming shoehorn-shaped fleshy lamella, directed ventrally; third legs separate along midline. Leg 4 biramous; rami forming elongate, flattened lobes, entirely concealed beneath dorsal trunk plate in adult. Leg 5 absent. Mean body length of
♀
2.85 mm
, of
♂
1.53 mm
(from
Cressey & Collette, 1970
).
Distribution:
In their monographic survey of copepods parasitic on needlefishes (
Belonidae
),
Cressey & Collette (1970)
reported
L. belones
from nine different host species collected at numerous localities in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters around the world. Their survey included a record of
L. belones
from
Strongylura incisa
caught off Arnhem Land (New Territory).
Remarks:
Cressey & Collette (1970)
recognized only two species of
Lernanthropus
on belonid hosts,
L. belones
and
L. tylosuri
Richiardi, in
Goggio, 1906
(as
L. tylosuri
Richiardi, 1880
). They distinguished between them solely on the basis of the shape of the cephalothorax: in
L. tylosuri
there are prominent posterolateral processes on the margin of the cephalothorax while
L. belones
lacks such processes. The males of both species were figured in detail by
Cressey & Collette (1970)
, who noted fine scale differences in the shape of the lamellate leg 4, which they considered to be more deeply bifid at its apex in
L. tylosuri
than in
L. belones
.
Without discussion,
Cressey & Collette (1970)
placed
L. chlamydotus
Wilson, 1922
(as
L. chlamydotes
) in the synonymy of
L. belones
and this synonymy was accepted by
Ho & Do (1985)
. However, as recognized by
Shiino (1955)
, the Japanese material reported by
Yamaguti (1939)
under the name
L. chlamydotus
is referable to
L. tylosuri
, as previously noted by
Ho & Do (1985)
.