The discovery of Caligus quadratus Shiino, 1954 (Copepoda: Caligidae) in the Mediterranean Sea, with a new host record and supplementary morphological information obtained using confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and 3D image processing.

Abstract

In this study, supplementary information on the morphology of the siphonostomatoid copepod Caligus quadratus Shiino, 1954 (Copepoda: Caligidae) is given based on the new material collected from the gills of the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) caught in the Gulf of Antalya, Turkey. The morphology of C. quadratus is re-examined for the first time by adopting a recently developed visualisation technique by Kamanli et al. [1]. Appendages of Congo red stained specimens of C. quadratus were dissected and scanned using confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and the CLSM images were processed using Dristhi software programme. 3D reconstructions of some confusing appendages were visualised using Drishti. Line drawing was used to depict the habitus of both female and male C. quadratus. Key diagnostic characters of C. quadratus are presented together with the newly observed additional taxonomic characters. In addition, previously misinterpreted and simply overlooked features in the previous descriptions of C. quadratus are also re-described. This is the first report of C. quadratus from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic bluefin tuna constitutes a new host record for this caligid copepod.