Lernanthropus chrysophrys Shishido, 1898

Boxshall, Geoff A., Bernot, James P., Barton, Diane P., Diggles, Ben K., Q-Y, Russell, Atkinson-Coyle, Toby & Hutson, Kate S., 2020, Parasitic copepods of the family Lernanthropidae Kabata, 1979 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) from Australian fishes, with descriptions of seven new species, Zootaxa 4736 (1), pp. 1-103 : 35-36

Lernanthropus chrysophrys Shishido, 1898

( Fig. 16 )

Material examined: 3♀♀ from Acanthopagrus australis (Günther, 1859) (TC17145), Moreton Bay, Queensland, 14 January 2016; collected by G.A. Boxshall; QM Reg. No. W29485. 2♀♀ from A. australis ( TC17250 ), Moreton Bay , Queensland, 18 January 2016 ; collected by G.A. Boxshall; QM Reg. No. W29486. 3♀♀ from A. australis ( TC17563 ), Moreton Bay , Queensland, 24 June 2016 ; collected by G.A. Boxshall; QM reg. No. W29487. 2♀♀ from A. australis ( TC17132 ), Moreton Bay , Queensland, 14 January 2016 ; collected by G.A. Boxshall. 1♀ from A. australis ( TC17310 ), Moreton Bay , Queensland, 20 January 2016 ; collected by G.A. Boxshall. 2♀♀ from A. australis ( TC17316 ), Moreton Bay , Queensland, 20 January 2016 ; collected by G.A. Boxshall. 4♀♀, 1♂ from A. australis ( TC17580 ), Moreton Bay , Queensland, 25 June 2016 ; collected by G.A. Boxshall; NHMUK Reg. No. 2018.234–243 .

3♀♀ from Acanthopagrus pacificus Iwatsuki, Kume & Yoshino, 2010 , Darwin Harbour , Northern Territory, 15 October 2014: collected by B.K. Diggles ; 2♀♀ MAGNT Reg. No. Cr 019241 ; 1♀ NHMUK Reg. No. 2018.233 .

Differential diagnosis: Cephalothorax about as long as wide, with almost straight frontal margin and paired posterolateral processes on lateral margins ( Fig. 16 A–C); processes slightly curved posteriorly. Anterior part of trunk (second and third pedigerous somites) narrower than cephalothorax, longer than wide with slight indentation marking boundary between fused second and third pedigerous somites. Posterior part of trunk (fourth pedigerous somite) covered by almost circular dorsal trunk plate, with entire and almost linear free posterior margin. Urosome comprising fifth pedigerous somite, genital complex and abdomen, all fused. Paired caudal rami elongate, each ramus about 4 times longer than wide; tapering towards apex. Parabasal flagellum tapering from wide base to cylindrical distal part. Leg 3 forming fleshy lamella, projecting ventrally with distal part curving anteriorly ( Fig. 16B ); lamella curved (so convex anteriorly and concave posteriorly). Leg 4 bilobate; lobes lanceolate ( Fig. 16C ), inner lobe slightly shorter than outer, distal halves of both lobes protruding well beyond free posterior margin of dorsal trunk plate. Body length of ♀ ranging from 3.32 to 4.21 mm, with a mean of 3.78 mm (based on 9 specimens); body length of single ♂ 1.73 mm.

Distribution: This species was originally described from Japan ( Shishido, 1898) and has been recorded subsequently on numerous occasions, on Acanthopagrus schlegelii in Japanese waters ( Yamaguti, 1936 (as Sparus longispinis ); Shiino, 1955; Ho & Do, 1985). This species has also been reported on A. latus , A. schlegelii and A. berda (Forsskål, 1775) in Taiwan ( Liu et al., 2009a); on A. schlegelii (as Sparus macrocephalus ) in China ( Song & Chen, 1976), and on A. berda in India ( Tripathi, 1962; Pillai, 1985). This species has previously been reported in Australian waters, where it is widespread: Byrnes (1988) recorded it on A. australis , A. pacificus (historically misidentified as A. berda , see Iwatsuki et al., 2010) and A. latus collected at numerous localities around the coast of Australia including: Point Samson, Broome (WA), Darwin, Bing Bong (NT), Townsville, Gladstone, Brisbane (QLD) and Eden (NSW). It is reported here from Moreton Bay for the first time.

Remarks: This species has been redescribed numerous times, most recently by Liu et al. (2009a). The description by Ho & Do (1985) is ideal for comparisons as it is supported by illustrations of the highest quality. The rounded knob-like post-antennal process of the female was figured by Yamaguti (1936).

Figures

FIGURE 16. Lernanthropus chrysophrys Shishido, 1898, adult ♀. A, habitus, dorsal; B, habitus, lateral; C, habitus, ventral. Scale bar 2 mm.