Peltogaster sp. 4

Jung, Jibom, Yoshida, Ryuta & Kim, Won, 2019, Ophiacantha scissionis Lee & Stöhr & Bae & Shin 2019, sp. nov., Zoological Studies (Zool. Stud.) 58 (33), pp. 1-12 : 12

Peltogaster sp. 4

Material examined: On Pagurus minutus : 1 Ind., Namhae, 34°52'40.83"N 127°56'43.61"E, 14 Nov. 2012, Coll. Jung J, MADBK 160706_065, host: female, SL 3.7 mm; 1 Ind (2 externae), Namhae, 34°52'40.83"N 127°56'43.61"E, 12 May 2018, Coll. Jung J, MADBK 160706_125, host: female, SL 2.9 mm.

Host: P. minutus ( Paguridae ).

Distribution: Korea.

Remarks: Only one peltogastrid species, Peltogaster postica , is known to parasitize P. minutus ( Yoshida et al. 2011) . As in P. postica , the examined specimens had a single externa and without a chitinous shield, but the specimen’s mantle characteristics could not be examined due to damage. On the other hand, mitochondrial sequences from the specimen in this study ( MK 604151, MK 604167) were clearly different from those of P. postica from the Okinawa islands in Japan ( AB 602392, AB 778105) reported by Yoshida et al. (2011). These results suggest that the present specimen is not P. postica , but an unreported species, though further data are needed to confirm this.

Jung et al. (2018a) showed that the Korean and Taiwan –Okinawa populations of Pagurus minutus are different based on molecular, morphological, and color characteristics. Morphological examination of the host P. minutus individuals infested with Peltogaster postica shows that the host reported by Yoshida et al. (2011) belonged to the Taiwan –Okinawa Group ( TOG), whereas the host in this study belongs to the Major Group ( MAG). This result indicates that these two groups of Pagurus minutus might have different parasites, and population separation can be enhanced by observing the prevalence of specialized hosts of these peltogastrids.