A New Fish Parasite (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from the Timor Sea, Australia

Abstract

A new species of parasitic copepod, Pseudopetalus timorensis n. sp., is described based on a single specimen (female) obtained from a pelagic fish, possibly a flying fish (Exocoetidae) or a long tom (Belorudae), collected by a dip net at night in the Cartier Reef, Timor Sea, Australia, in May, 1992. The species is distinguishable from its congeners in having a proportionally long aliform adomen with strongly curled edges.