Abstract
The branchial parasitic isopod Pleurocryptella altalis sp. nov. (Bopyridae: Pseudioninae) is described from the squat lobster host Munidopsis petalorhyncha Baba, 2005. The new species is morphologically similar to Pleurocryptella formosa Bonnier, 1900 and P. wolffi Bourdon, 1972b but can be distinguished based on male characters (differences in head, pleon and uropods) and female characters (differences in barbula, pleopods and pleotelson). The parasite specimens (a female and male pair) were collected with the squat lobster host at a depth of 5060–5130 m from the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, representing the deepest record for any of the 850+ described bopyrid isopod species and for any record of an infested host. Dichotomous identification keys to females and males of Pleurocryptella species and subspecies are provided.
Highlights
The genus Pleurocryptella Bonnier, 1900 is generally considered to be the most primitive genus in Bopyridae Rafinesque, 1815 (Shiino 1965; Bourdon 1979; Markham 1986; Boyko & Williams 2009, 2010)
We describe a new species of Pleurocryptella that is closely related to P. formosa and P. wolffi
Measurements were taken to 0.1 mm with a caliper: the size of the isopods is given as total length (TL) from the front edge of the head to the posterior edge of the pleotelson; carapace length (CL) and carapace width (CW) are provided for the host specimen
Summary
The genus Pleurocryptella Bonnier, 1900 is generally considered to be the most primitive genus in Bopyridae Rafinesque, 1815 (Shiino 1965; Bourdon 1979; Markham 1986; Boyko & Williams 2009, 2010). Males of all species of Pleurocryptella have well-developed pleopods, either small and rounded or broad and subquadrate or conical, and articulated uropods; uropods occur on males in only a few other bopyrid genera (e.g., Gigantione Kossmann, 1881; Parapleurocryptella Bourdon, 1972a). Both males and females of species in Pleurocryptella have biarticulated maxilliped palps. We describe a new species of Pleurocryptella that is closely related to P. formosa and P. wolffi It is the deepest identified bopyrid ever reported, but it is from deeper water than all reported bopyridiform swellings on any decapod hosts
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