Description of a new endoparasitic copepod genus a

Authors: Jason D Williams Bianca Anchaluisa Christopher B Boyko Neil McDaniel

Publish Date: 2016/11/14

Volume: 48, Issue: 3, Pages: 1325-1335

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Abstract

A new genus and species of gallforming endoparasitic copepod of the family Lamippidae is described from the orange sea pen Ptilosarcus gurneyi Gray 1860 collected in British Columbia Canada Lamippid copepods over 50 species are obligate endoparasites some of which form galls in a variety of soft corals Alcyonacea and Pennatulacea Ptilosarcoma athyrmata n gen n sp is the first lamippid formally described from any species of Ptilosarcus Verrill 1865 In total 143 galls from six sea pens were dissected and found to typically contain one female and male copepod pair Infested leaves of P gurneyi had 14 ± 06 n = 143 galls per leaf Using light and scanning electron microscopy the copepods were examined and found to most closely resemble those belonging to the genus Isidicola Gravier 1914 based on the presence of maxillipeds and lack of acicules on the caudal rami however they are distinct from the sole species of Isidicola based on aspects of antennal morphology We conclude that Lamippina laubieri Bouligand 1960 is a synonym of L aciculifera Zulueta 1908 thus the family presently contains 52 species and one subspecies A key to lamippid genera and a table of all lamippid genera and species with all known hosts and locality records are providedWe thank Mary Knight American Museum of Natural History for help in proper formation of the specific name We also thank Douglas Swanston for assistance in field collections Geoff Boxshall Natural History Museum London kindly advised on the authorship of Copepoda and Poecilostomatoida Peter Wimberger Slater Museum of Natural History the University of Puget Sound kindly searched for Johnstone’s 1969 specimens This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation DBI1337525 PI Williams Hofstra University

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