A new genus and species of fish parasitic cymothoid (Crustacea, Isopoda) from the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa, with a key to the externally attaching genera of Cymothoidae

Niel L Bruce,Kerry A Hadfield,Nico J Smit,Rachel L Welicky

doi:10.3897/zookeys.889.38638

Abstract

Bambalocra intwalagen. et sp. nov. is described from Sodwana Bay, north-eastern South Africa. The monotypic genus is characterised by the broadly truncate anterior margin of the head with a ventral rostrum, coxae 2–5 being ventral in position not forming part of the body outline and not or barely visible in dorsal view, and the posterolateral margins of pereonites 6 and 7 are posteriorly produced and broadly rounded. The antennulae bases are widely separated, with both antennula and antenna slender. The species is known only from the type locality and the known hosts are species of Pomacanthidae (Angelfish). A revised key to the externally attaching genera of Cymothoidae is provided.

Highlights

Taxonomic research on the family Cymothoidae Leach, 1814 has always been episodic
A period of relative quietude followed until the revisionary work of Hadfield et al (2010–2017) on the South African cymothoid fauna and the revision of Australian buccal attaching genera by Martin and Bruce (2014–2016)
The discovery, among specimens of unidentified Cymothoidae held at the South African Museum of a specimen that could not be placed into any existing externally attaching genus, is of great interest

Summary

Introduction

Taxonomic research on the family Cymothoidae Leach, 1814 has always been episodic (see Smit et al 2014). Body weakly vaulted; coxae 2–6 ventral, not visible in dorsal view; posterolateral margins of pereonites 6 and 7 posteriorly produced, that of pereonite 7 extending posteriorly along pleon to pleonites 2 or 3. Can immediately be identified and distinguished from all other marine cymothoid genera by coxae 2–5 being ventral in position, not forming part of the body outline and not or barely visible in dorsal view, all are posteriorly acute, and the posterolateral margins of pereonite 6 and 7 are posteriorly produced and broadly rounded.

Results

Conclusion