First Record of Parasitic Isopod Renocila bijui Aneesh & Bruce, 2020 (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from the Arabian Sea

Abstract

Renocila bijui Aneesh & Bruce, 2020 was described as a new species from Andaman & Nicobar Islands. After its description, no studies confirm its distribution to any other places of India. Here we report Renocila bijui Aneesh & Bruce, 2020 for the first time from the Arabian Sea, near Okha coast of Gujarat. This paper also reports the species for the first time from the west coast of India as well as from Arabian Sea with its morphological characters. This fish parasitic isopod has a specific host fish, namely Acanthurus triostegus [1], and A. mata (Cuvier, 1829) which are common in coral reef areas in Indian coast. As isopods are associated with many species of commercially important fishes and shell fishes and causes significant losses to fisheries by the way of killing, stunting or damaging the fishes and thereby limiting aquaculture production and its economic viability, the report of this isopod from Gujarat coast has a significance in respect of marine fisheries.