A New Family of Cyclopoid Copepod (Namakosiramiidae) Parasitic on Holothurians from Southern California

Abstract

Namakosiramia californiensis gen. et sp. n. is described as a representative of a new family of cyclopoid copepod parasitic on Stichopus parvimensis (Clark) collected off Palos Verdes, California. During an investigation of copepod parasites of southern Californian echinoderms, some minute copepods were recovered from the body surface of a holothurian, Stichopus parvimensis (Clark). The host is abundant off Palos Verdes, California, where it is found in water ranging from 3 to 10 m in depth. The copepods were recovered from the sediment after washing the sea cucumbers in 5% isopropyl alcohol in seawater for several minutes. Closer examination of the copepods revealed that they represent a new family of Cyclopoida. After preservation in 70% isopropyl alcohol, the copepods were cleared in lactic acid for further study. All drawings were made with the aid of a camera lucida. Genus Namakosiramia gen. n. Female: Body minute, flattened dorsoventrally. Broad shield covering cephalothorax, which includes the first pedigerous somite. Second pedigerous somite as broad as cephalothorax. Succeeding somites distinctly narrower. Genital segment short and wide, with genital openings on ventral surface. Abdomen 3-segmented. Caudal ramus well developed, with 6 elements. Two ventral egg sacs with 9 to 13 eggs. First antenna 4-segmented. Second antenna prehensile; exopod rudimentary, represented by a compound seta. Labrum a distinct plate, not forming an oral cone. Mandible bearing 2 terminal spines and 3 basal setae. First maxilla indistinctly bilobate. Second maxilla with 3 terminal elements. Maxilliped 3-segmented, terminal segment a claw. Leg 1 biramous with prehensile exopod. Leg 2 uniramous and prehensile. Legs 3, 4, and 5 reduced to a small bipartite lobe bearing setae. Leg 6 represented by 2 small setae at egg sac attachment area. Received for publication 30 July 1976. Male: Unknown. Type species: Namakosiramia californiensis sp. n. Etymology: The generic name is a combination of Japanese words NAMAKO = sea cucumber and SIRAMI = louse. Gender feminine. Namakosiramia californiensis sp. n.