Abstract
Simple SummaryThis study reports an undescribed species of the Choniomyzon copepod obtained from a longlegged spiny lobster Panulirus longipes longipes (Milne-Edwards, 1868), collected from Hualien Port, Eastern Taiwan. We illustrated morphological features of the specimen to determine its taxonomic identification. The new species reported here is the first record of Choniomyzon species from spiny lobster in Taiwanese waters.Choniomyzon taiwanensis n. sp. is described based on specimens collected from examining external egg masses of spiny lobster Panulirus longipes longipes (Milne-Edwards, 1868), obtained from Hualien, Taiwan. The new species differs from its congeners in possessing the following characteristics: (1) small prosome (about 0.84 mm); (2) armature of antennule being 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1+1 (aesthetasc), 4, 6+1 (aesthetasc); (3) five-segmented antenna; (4) second segment of antenna bearing 1 inner seta; (5) two-segmented maxilla. Based on the evidence of distinctive morphological features and host preference, Choniomyzon taiwanensis n. sp. is a new species. Until now, four species of Choniomyzon have been known living on decapods, and the new species reported here is the first record of Choniomyzon species from spiny lobster in Taiwanese waters.
Highlights
An egg-bearing female longlegged spiny lobster P. longipes longipes was purchased from a commercial fisherman in June 2020 at Hualien Port, Eastern Taiwan
The external egg mass of the lobster was examined for the presence of parasitic copepods, and the copepod specimens were picked up by using insect forceps
Three species (Table 1) have been recognized in the genus Choniomyzon to date [4], several differences are apparent between the descriptions of C. panuliri provided by Pillai in 1962 [7] and Bradford in 1975 [8]
Summary
Over 136 species are known living on/in a wide range of crustacean hosts [3,4]. They are found on the body surface, gills, and egg clutches or marsupia of their hosts [2,3]. Those copepods living in the egg clutches are very similar to their host eggs both in size and in their globular body. In order to avoid ejection by a host, Choniomyzon inflatus Wakabayashi, Otake, Tanaka & Nagasawa, 2013, simulates the external eggs of its host in its prosome shape and size, and its caudal rami are similar to its host’s egg attachment filaments [6]
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