Reports of Pennellidae Burmeister, 1835 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida) post metamorphosed females off the coast of southern Africa.

Seven species belonging to Pennellidae are reported from marine teleosts caught off southern Africa. Additionally, complete re-descriptions are provided for Propeniculus stromatei and Sarcotretes scopeli. Examination of Lernaeenicus gonostomae, deposited in the Iziko South African Museum, indicated that it has the morphological features of Sarcotretes rather than Lernaeenicus and thus should be moved to Sarcotretes i.e. S. gonostomae n. comb. for which a re-description is also provided. Reports of new host records include those of Pennella instructa from Seriola lalandi; Propeniculus stromatei from Rhabdosargus holubi and Pomadasys commersonnii; Sarcotretes scopeli from Nansenia tenera, and Sarcotretes longirostris from Centrolophus niger. New geographical records include those of P. instructa, P. stromatei, S. scopeli, S. longirostris, and L. longiventris off southern Africa. Additionally, an attempt to estimate the evolutionary relationships amongst some genera is done from partial COI sequences deposited in Genbank.

Lophoura Kölliker in Gegenbaur, Kölliker & Müller, 1853 species (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Sphyriidae) off South Africa with a key to all valid species.

Lophoura Kölliker in Gegenbaur, Kölliker & Müller, 1853 is one of the eight genera of Sphyriidae which currently consists of 19 accepted species. Lophoura species are mesoparasites of various teleosts occurring worldwide. Post metamorphic females are highly transformed with longitudinally elongated cephalothoraces and elongated necks bearing holdfast organs anteriorly. The shape and structure of the holdfast organ is mostly the main character used for the identification of species. Additionally, the structure of the posterior processes attached laterally to the perianal swelling on the posterior margin of the trunk is also used to distinguish different species. The posterior processes consist of a central porous peduncle with stalks of varying shapes and sizes. The morphology of Lophoura males bear resemblance to that of lernaeopodid males. Re-descriptions of the habitus of the post metamorphic females of L. tetraloba Ho & Kim I.H., 1989, L. cf. edwardsi Kölliker, 1853, L. caparti (Nunes-Ruivo, 1962) and L. cornuta (Wilson C.B., 1919), including notes on the immature females of L. tetraloba and L. cf. edwardsi, are provided. Additionally, information regarding the structure and position of some of the appendages of L. tetraloba, L. cf. edwardsi and L. caparti is provided. Furthermore, the study provides the first illustrated descriptions of the male of L. tetraloba. A description is also done of an incomplete unidentied Lophoura species which differs from other accepted species. A morphological identification key to post metamorphic females of all accepted Lophoura species is provided, as well as new host and geographical records of Lophoura species.