Descriptions of two new species of Xarifia copepods (Copepoda: Xarifiidae) with a key to the known species associated with the coral family, Euphylliidae Alloiteau, 1952

Abstract

Five species of Xarifia copepods are known to live in association with the coral family, Euphylliidae Alloiteau, 1952. In this paper, three Xarifia copepods, including two new species and one species new to Taiwan, are described and redescribed, i.e., Xarifia lyudaoensis nov. sp. and Xarifia gracilipes Humes and Dojiri, 1983 living on Euphyllia glabrescens (Chamisso and Eysenhardt, 1821), and Xarifia angusta nov. sp. collected from Euphyllia ancora Veron and Pichon, 1980. The present report brings the total number of species of Xarifiidae to 95, and seven of them live in association with the coral family Euphylliidae. A comparison table and a key to the species of Xarifia from euphylliid corals are given herein.