Description of Paeon asymboli n. sp. (Copepoda: Sphyriidae), parasitic on Asymbolus spp. (catsharks) and a new host record for P. australis Kabata, 1993.

Abstract

Paeon asymboli n. sp. (Copepoda: Sphyriidae) is described and illustrated from two female specimens taken from the gills of a grey spotted catshark Asymbolus analis (Ogilby) and an orange spotted catshark A. rubiginosus (Last, Gomon & Gledhill) (Scyliorhinidae) from off southeastern Queensland, Australia. The key features for identification are: a pear-shaped trunk, longer than it is wide, along with a cephalothorax characterised by two large ventral papillae, projecting laterally and supporting a number of secondary lobes; a single mid-line, sub-conical papilla located antero-dorsal to the ventral papillae; an anterior surface bearing two prominent stalked papillae; and an absence of posterolateral lobular processes. P. australis Kabata, 1993 is recorded for the first time from the eastern shovelnose ray Aptychotrema rostrata (Shaw & Nodder) (Rhinobatidae).