Pathology caused by introduced Neoergasilus japonicus (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) to the skin of indigenous Tilapia sparrmanii in South Africa and scanning electron microscopy study of wound-inflicting structures.

Neoergasilus japonicus, a fish ectoparasite indigenous to eastern and southern Asia, has been introduced to various regions, including Europe and North and South America, where it spreads at an alarming rate. The parasite is not host-specific. It was also collected from the Vaal-Orange and Limpopo river systems in South Africa. This report describes the morphology of the wound-inflecting structures in N. japonicus and relates their morphology to the pathological effect on Tilapia sparrmanii. Host tissue with parasites attached was imbedded in resin for histological sectioning and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Additional specimens were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. Adult female parasites attach by inserting the hooked tips of the antennae into the epidermis. The maxillulae are minute but have sharp tips. The maxillae have sharp tips on the endopod and brush-like setae on the exopod. The mandibles are armed with sharp tips. These structures are used to remove the epidermis of the host and brush it into the buccal cavity. Host tissue in the intestine confirms that adult females consume host tissue leaving the dermis exposed to opportunistic diseases. The microscopic size of the parasite prevents casual observation, and its occurrence in Africa is, therefore, probably underreported.

Live Freshwater Parasite, Salmincola californiensis (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), on the Gills of an Ocean-Migrating Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and Discussion on the Origin and Survival of the Parasite at Sea.

Salmincola californiensis is a parasitic copepod of freshwater salmonids in the North Pacific rim countries. Sixteen adult females of the species were found alive on the gills of an ocean-age 4, maturing steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, caught in offshore waters (50°30'N, 179°30'W) of the North Pacific Ocean in July 1997. This is the first evidence of live individuals of S. californiensis from ocean-migrating salmonids. When found, copepods were attached to the distal ends of gill filaments, and their bodies were observed to be slowly moving in Petri dishes with seawater. Ocean-migrating steelhead trout comprise individuals originating from western Kamchatka (Russia) and western North America. Based on the date and catch location of the infected fish, it is inferred that it originated from western North America, where it acquired S. californiensis infection in fresh water. As this fish spent about 4 years in the ocean, the copepods likely survived the same period at sea. However, if the fish was a kelt, the survival period of the copepods in the ocean may be shorter than four years. To confirm identification of the copepods, adult females of S. californiensis are briefly described using the specimens collected from the fish.

Three species of copepods parasitic on the blue mackerel Scomber australasicus Cuvier (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Scombridae) from southern Japan, with description of a new species Colobomatus itoui n. sp. (Cyclopoida: Philichthyidae).

The blue mackerel Scomber australasicus is one of the major commercial fishes consumed in southern Japan. Three species of parasitic copepods were collected from S. australasicus in the East China Sea off the west coast of Kyushu Island, southern Japan. These copepods are each characterized based on the females: Pumiliopes scombri (Bomolochidae) differs from its congeners by the presence of fine ventral spinules on legs 2 to 4; Colobomatus itoui n. sp. (Philichthyidae) is characterized by having the cephalosome with a pair of dorsal hemispherical cephalic protrusions but without an apical cephalic process and the anal somite with a pair of posterolateral protrusions with a smooth tip; and Caligus kanagurta (Caligidae) is distinguishable from its congeners accommodated in the Caligus diaphanus-group by bearing an atypical bulged leg 4 with long protruded pectens. The collection of C. kanagurta in Japanese waters represents its new country record. Parasitic copepods reported from S. australasicus and its related species S. japonicus from the western Pacific Ocean are tabulated.LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:382569AD-5188-4443-AAA8-1C2DB4FE2689.

Cinusa nippon n. sp. (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) Parasitic in the Buccal Cavity of Coastal Puffers (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from Japan, with the First Specimen-Based Record of the Isopod Genus from the Pacific Region.

Cinusa nippon n. sp. is described as the second species of the genus from ovigerous females and adult males found in the buccal cavity of three species of coastal puffers [vermiculated puffer, Takifugu snyderi (Abe, 1989) (type host); panther puffer, Takifugu pardalis (Temminck and Schlegel, 1850); and fine patterned puffer, Takifugu flavipterus Matsuura, 2017], in the southern Sea of Japan off western Honshu, Japan. The female of the new species is distinguished from that of its single congener, Cinusa tetrodontis Schioedte and Meinert, 1884, by the shape of pereonite 1 (straight lateral margins with slightly produced anterolateral angles in the new species vs. rounded anterolateral sides and angles in C. tetrodontis). The number of recurved robust setae on the female's maxilliped article 3 is also different between the two species: C. nippon n. sp. has two robust setae, while C. tetrodontis has three robust setae. Moreover, the male of the new species is differentiated from that of C. tetrodontis in the number of antennal articles and recurved robust setae on the maxilla and maxilliped. Cinusa nippon n. sp. represents the first specimen-based record of the genus from the Pacific region. An amended diagnosis of the genus is provided.

Some Spirurid Nematodes (Spirurida) from Freshwater and Brackish-Water Fishes in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, with Descriptions of Two New Species.

PURPOSE: Despite the fact that Okinawa Prefecture represents a very interesting subtropical region of Japan, its fauna of nematodes parasitizing fishes is still little-known. Therefore, new data are needed to recognize the species composition of these parasites in this zoogeographically remarkable region. METHODS: Helminthological examinations of some freshwater and brackish-water fishes in Okinawa Prefecture carried out in the years 2010, 2016 and 2018, revealed two new and four insufficiently known species of spirurid nematodes (Spirurida), all gastrointestinal parasites. These were studied with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: All nematode species recorded are described: Rhabdochonidae: Rhabdochona honshuensis Moravec et Nagasawa, 1989 from Glossogobius celebius (Valenciennes) (Gobiidae, Perciformes) (new host), Rhabdochona iriomotensis sp. nov. from Ophieleotris sp. (Eleotridae, Perciformes) and Rhabdochona sp. (only females) from Eleotris acanthopoma Bleeker and E. fusca (Forster) (both Eleotridae, Perciformes); Cystidicolidae: Spinitectus mirabilis sp. nov. from Kuhlia rupestris (Lacepède) (Kuhliidae, Perciformes) and Spinitectus sp. larvae from E. acanthopoma; and Camallanidae: Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. (fourth-stage larva) from Yongeichthys criniger (Valenciennes) (Gobiidae, Perciformes). Rhabdochona iriomotensis sp. nov. is very similar to R. honshuensis, but differs from it in the presence of well-developed ventral precloacal ridges. Spinitectus mirabilis sp. nov. differs from its congeners and all other cystidicolids in having eggs provided with both lateral swellings and polar filaments. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the discovery of two new nematode species, Rhabdochona iriomotensis sp. nov. and Spinitectus mirabilis sp. nov., the findings of all other species represent new host and geographical records. Rhabdochona denudata honshuensis Moravec et Nagasawa, 1989 is elevated to the level of an independent species R. honshuensis.

Description of Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) multipapillata sp. nov., Redescription of Hysterothylacium simile Li et al., 2013 and New Records of Some Other Ascaridoid and Seuratoid Nematodes from Marine Fishes in Japan.

PURPOSE: Many nematode species parasitizing marine fishes were reported from Japanese waters. However, considering the wealth of fish species in this zoogeographically interesting region and the host specificity of nematodes, the number of hitherto recorded fish nematodes probably represents only a very small part of the potential Japanese fauna of these organisms. Therefore, new data are needed to recognise the species composition of these parasites in this region. METHODS: Helminthological examinations of some marine fishes from off Japan, carried out in the years 2005-2017, revealed one new and five insufficiently known species of ascaridoid and seuratoid nematodes. These were studied with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: All six nematode species recorded are described: Anisakidae: Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) multipapillata sp. nov. (male and females) from the intestine of Labracoglossa argenteiventris Peters (Kyphosidae) in the Sea of Japan, Raphidascaris (Ichthyascaris) sp. (third-stage larvae) probably from the digestive tract of Seriola dumerili (Risso) and S. rivoliana Valenciennes (both Carangidae) in the western North Pacific Ocean off Ishigaki-jima Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Hysterothylacium simile Li et al., 2013 (males and females) from the stomach of Lateolabrax japonicus (Cuvier) (Lateolabracidae) in the Sea of Japan, Hysterothylacium sp. 1 (female) from the pyloric caeca of Jaydia lineata (Temminck et Schlegel) (Apogonidae) in the Seto Inland Sea, Hysterothylacium sp. 2 (third- and fourth-stage larvae) from the intestine and mesentery of Etelis coruscans Valenciennes (Lutjanidae) and Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus Günther (Paralichthyidae) in the western North Pacific Ocean off Ishigaki-jima Island, Okinawa Prefecture and the Seto Inland Sea, respectively; and Cucullanidae: Cucullanus sp. (female) from the intestine of Semicossyphus reticulatus (Valenciennes) (Labridae) in the Seto Inland Sea. Raphidascaris (I.) multipapillata sp. n. differs from congeners mainly in the high number (79) of pairs of caudal papillae, spicules 402 µm long and in the structure of the male and female tail tips. Hysterothylacium simile is redescribed, being recorded from off Japan for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the discovery of the new nematode species R. (I.) multipapillata sp. nov. and a redescription of H. simile providing some new morphological data of this parasite, the findings of all other species represent new host and geographical records. The present study extends the knowledge of the species composition and host-parasite relationships of nematodes parasitizing marine fishes.

Some nematodes from eels (Anguilliformes: Anguillidae) in Japan, with descriptions of two new species.

Recent occasional examinations of two species of eels (Anguilliformes: Anguillidae) in Japan, the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel from central Japan and the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard from southern Japan, respectively, revealed the following four species of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes: Cucullanus filiformis Yamaguti, 1935 (Cucullanidae) from A. japonica; Paraquimperia japonica n. sp. (Quimperiidae) from A. japonica (type-host) and A. marmorata; Heliconema anguillae Yamaguti, 1935 (Physalopteridae) from A. marmorata (new host record); and Spinitectus anguillae n. sp. (Cystidicolidae) from A. japonica (type-host) and A. marmorata. Specimens of all species are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Paraquimperia japonica n. sp. is mainly characterised by the presence of a ventral sucker, spicules 210-231 µm long and by narrow cervical alae, whereas S. anguillae n. sp. by the number (29-36) of cuticular spines in the first ring, the length of the left spicule (351 µm) and the structure (without polar caps, filaments or lateral swellings), and the size of eggs (36-42 × 21-27 µm).

Gobioecetes longibasais n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from Rhinogobius similis Gill (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from Okinawa-jima Island, the Ryukyu Archipelago, southern Japan, with a new host record for Gobioecetes biwaensis Ogawa & Itoh, 2017.

Gobioecetes longibasis n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from the gills of the freshwater goby Rhinogobius similis Gill (Perciformes: Gobiidae) in the River Teima, Okinawa-jima Island, the Ryukyu Archipelago, southern Japan, is described. The new species is distinguished from two congeneric species of Gobioecetes Ogawa & Itoh, 2017, G. rhinogobius (Ling, 1973) and G. biwaensis Ogawa & Itoh, 2017, by having longer ventral hamuli, longer and wider internal process of the dorsal hamuli, and the ratio of dorsal hamulus length to base length. This new species is host-specific to R. similis and considered to be endemic to Okinawa-jima Island or the Ryukyu Archipelago. We also report Rhinogobius sp. OM from a tributary of Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture, central Japan, as a new host of G. biwaensis.

New records of philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off Japan, including description of Philometra kidakoi sp. n. and Congerinema japonicum gen. et sp. n.

Occasional examinations of some marine fishes in Japan revealed, in addition to other parasites, the following eight species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) (all females only): Philometra kidakoi sp. n. from the ovary of Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck et Schlegel) (Muraenidae); Philometra pinnicola (Yamaguti, 1935) from the operculum of Epinephelus akaara (Temminck et Schlegel) (Serranidae); Philometra sebastisci Yamaguti, 1941 from the ovary of Sebastes cheni Barsukov (Scorpaenidae) (new host); Philometra madai Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker) (Sparidae) (new host); Philometra isaki Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Parapristipoma trilineatum (Thunberg) (Haemulidae); Philometra sp. from the ovary of Synanceia verrucosa Bloch et Schneider (Synanceiidae); Congerinema japonicum gen. et sp. n. from the subcutaneous tissue of Conger myriaster (Brevoort) (Congridae); and Clavinema mariae (Layman, 1930) from the operculum of Acentrogobius pflaumii (Bleeker) (Gobiidae). Specimens of all species are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra kidakoi sp. n. is the first gonad-infecting philometrid from the Muraenidae. The new monotypic genus Congerinema gen. n. is characterised by the unique net-like cuticular ornamentation on the female body. Clavinema mariae is considered to be a complex of several cryptic species and a need of the discovery of conspecific males is stressed (this also concerns other philometrid species with unknown males). At present, the fauna of philometrid nematodes parasitising marine fishes in Japanese waters is represented by 22 nominal species belonging to four genera.

Redescription of Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris (Nematoda: Cucullanidae), a parasite of seabreams (Perciformes: Sparidae) in East Asia.

An insufficiently known nematode species Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris Luo, Guo, Fang et Huang, 2004 (Cucullanidae), originally described from the red seabream Pagrus major (Temminck et Schlegel) (Sparidae) in the Taiwan Strait, off China, is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations of specimens collected from the intestine of three species of sparid fishes, Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker), Evynnis tumifrons (Temminck et Schlegel) and P. major, in Hiroshima Bay, Japan. The present redescription provides exact data on the cephalic structure, character of cephalic papillae and amphids, location of the excretory pore, deirids and phasmids, and the number and distribution of caudal papillae in the male; the presence of the dorsal postdeirid in this species is reported for the first time. The SEM study revealed that the anterior cloacal lip has a median lobe-like elevation bearing two minute papillae, whereas the posterior cloacal lip is somewhat depressed, with a median longitudinal rod-like elevation probably serving to direct the movement of spicules. The size of eggs is reported for the first time. Dichelyne (C.) jialaris differs from the morphologically similar D. (C.) pleuronectidis (Yamaguti, 1935) mainly in the shape of the oesophagus. The present finding of D. (C.) jialaris represents the first record of this nematode from fishes in Japanese waters and A. schlegelii and E. tumifrons are its new host records.

Rhabdochona angusticaudata sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) from the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica, and new records of some other nematodes from inland fishes in Japan.

Collections of parasitic nematodes of fishes from some freshwater and brackish-water localities in Honshu, Shikoku and Hokkaido, Japan, carried out in 1996-2009, yielded the following eight species: Hysterothylacium haze (Machida, Takahashi et Masuuchi, 1978) (Anisakidae), Paraquimperia sp., Pingus sinensis Hsü, 1933 (both Quimperiidae), Heliconema anguillae Yamaguti, 1935 (Physalopteridae), Rhabdochona angusticaudata sp. n., Rhabdochona zacconis Yamaguti, 1935 (both Rhabdochonidae), Ascarophis arctica Polyanskiy, 1952 (Cystidicolidae) and Eustrongylides sp. larvae (Dioctophymatidae). The new species, R. angusticaudata sp. n., described from the intestine of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica Temminck et Schlegel in the Renjoji River, Shikoku, is mainly characterised by the presence of 14-16 anterior prostomal teeth, non-bifurcated deirids with rounded ends, the length of the left spicule (300-384 µm long), the right spicule with a dorsal barb and non-filamented eggs. The species of Paraquimperia Baylis, 1934 and A. arctica are reported from Japan for the first time. Based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations, some new morphological data on H. haze, H. anguillae, R. zacconis and A. arctica are provided.

Gyrodactylus medaka n. sp. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) parasitic on wild and laboratory-reared medaka Oryzias latipes (Beloniformes: Adrianichthyidae) in Japan.

Gyrodactylus medaka n. sp. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) is described from the skin, fins, and gills of medaka Oryzias latipes (Beloniformes: Adrianichthyidae) from Japan. This new species was collected from wild medaka in Hiroshima, Aichi, Saga, and Kumamoto prefectures, and laboratory-reared medaka in Chiba and Aichi prefectures. The small marginal hook sickle (≤4 µm) and the length of the marginal hook of the new species are the diagnostic morphological characters differentiated from other gyrodactylids reported from Asia. The pairwise sequence divergences for the interspecific variation in ITS regions and the phylogenetic analysis suggest that the populations of G. medaka n. sp. may have a similar genetic variation as the medaka populations in Japan. Gyrodactylus medaka n. sp. and Dactylogyrus oryziasi (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) can maintain their populations in laboratory aquaria using medaka as their hosts, and these monogeneans and medaka have the potential as experimental model animals for clarifying various aspects of their host-parasite relationships. In addition, we report the composition of modified ammonium picrate-glycerin (APG) and show it is advantageous for monogenean taxonomy.

A new species of Furcohaptor Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) parasitic on Cynoglossus robustus Günther (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae) in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, with comments on its systematic position and an amended generic diagnosis of Furcohaptor.

Furcohaptor brevis n. sp. is described from the gills of Cynoglossus robustus Günther caught in the Seto Inland Sea off Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Although Furcohaptor Bijukumar & Kearn, 1996 has been assigned to the Ancyrocephalinae Bychowsky, 1937 in the Dactylogyridae Bychowsky, 1933, this genus is transferred to the Diplectaninae Monticelli, 1903 in the Diplectanidae Monticelli, 1903 based on both morphological and molecular data. An amended generic diagnosis is provided.

A review of the Taeniacanthus balistae species group (Crustacea: Copepoda: Taeniacanthidae), with descriptions of two new species.

The Taeniacanthus balistae species group is characterized by two displaced elements on an outwardly curved and elongated terminal exopodal segment of leg 4. Members of this group parasitize tetraodontiform fishes. The group is reviewed herein based on both new material collected from tetraodontiform fishes and re-examination of voucher specimens housed at the Smithsonian Institution, U.S.A. Five species are considered valid in this group, including two new species described here, Taeniacanthus dojirii sp. nov. from diodontid hosts collected from the Indo-West Pacific and Taeniacanthus ryukyuensis sp. nov. from balistid hosts collected from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Taeniacanthus dojirii sp. nov. differs from other members of the group by having in the female stout spines on the terminal endopodal segment of legs 2 to 4 and on the exopod of leg 5, as well as highly reduced setae on the last two exopodal segments of leg 4. Taeniacanthus ryukyuensis sp. nov. differs from other members of the group by having in the female 16-18 incomplete rows of spinules on the anal somite, minute teeth on the straight terminal claw of the maxilliped and well-developed spinulated flanges on the rami of legs 2 to 4. Supplemental morphological observations, as well as new host and locality records for Taenicanthus balistae (Claus, 1864) and Taeniacanthus similis Dojiri & Cressey, 1987, are also provided.

New records of Caligidae (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida) from the Philippines.

Parasitic copepods, especially sea lice (Caligidae) are causing economic problems in both aquaculture and to wild fishes around the world, but their study in at least some of the southeastern Asian countries, is still scanty. Here we provide new information on the distribution of 11 known species of parasitic copepods collected from 11 marine fish hosts from Iloilo, central part of the Philippines. Two species of the genus Anuretes Heller, 1865 and nine species of the genus Caligus Müller, 1785 were found to infest these hosts, i.e. Anuretes branchialis Rangnekar, 1953 from Platax orbicularis (Forsskål, 1775); A. plectorhynchi Yamaguti, 1936 from P. orbicularis and Plectorhinchus pictus (Tortonese, 1936); Caligus absens Ho, Lin et Chen, 2000 from Priacanthus macracanthus Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829; C. asymmetricus Kabata, 1965 and C. coryphaenae (Steenstrup & Lütken, 1861) from Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800); C. bonito Wilson, 1905 from Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus, 1758; C. cordyla Pillai, 1963 from Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus, 1758); C. cornutus Heegaard, 1962 from Sphyraena jello Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829; C. epinepheli Yamaguti, 1936 from Scomberoides commersonnianus Lacepède, 1801; C. kanagurta Pillai, 1961 from Decapterus kurroides Bleeker, 1855, D. macarellus (Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1833) and C. hippurus; and C. rotundigenitalis Yü, 1933 from Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus, 1766). Attachment sites included the gill filaments and the body surface. Prevalence and mean intensity of caligids are provided in addition to an update on the checklist of caligids of the Philippines. Although reports on caligids in the Philippines are few, the published records indicate that sea lice are widely distributed throughout the archipelago.

Nippoparasitus unoashicola, a new genus and species of philoblennid copepod (Cyclopoida) parasitic on the Pacific sugar limpet, Patelloida saccharina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Patellogastropoda: Lottiidae) from the intertidal zone of eastern Japan.

Nippoparasitus unoashicola, a new genus and species of mesoparasitic copepod, is described based on specimens of both sexes collected from the mantle cavity of the Pacific sugar limpet, Patelloida saccharina (Linnaeus, 1758) (Patellogastropoda: Lottiidae), in the intertidal zone of the Uraga Channel (North Pacific Ocean), Japan. Nippoparasitus gen. nov. differs from other philoblennid genera by two unique characters: the labium is bloated and branched into multiple digitate lobes in female, and the antenna has three claw-like spines on the terminal segment. Nippoparasitus is probably closely related to Myzotheridion Laubier & Bouchet, 1976 with which it shares a series of processes on the terminal segment of the maxilla.

A new species of Dactylogyrus (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) parasitic on an endangered freshwater fish, Rhodeus atremius atremius, endemic to Japan.

A new dactylogyrid monogenean Dactylogyrus bicorniculus sp. nov. is described from the gills of the kazetoge bitterling, Rhodeus atremius atremius (Jordan and Thompson, 1914), an endemic species in Japan, from Saga Prefecture, northern Kyushu. D. bicorniculus sp. nov. resembles Dactylogyrus bicornis Malevitskaja, 1941 and Dactylogyrus lophogonus Zhang and Ji, 1980 because they have two common features, a large V-shaped ventral bar and well-developed second marginal hooks. However, the new species is distinguished from these congeners by a shorter penis and an accessory piece. A phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA shows that D. bicorniculus sp. nov. is a basal species with the T-shaped ventral bar in the genus. The new species has strict host-specificity to R. a. atremius, one of the endangered freshwater fishes in Japan, and may face the danger of co-extinction with its host.

A new species of Leposphilus Hesse, 1866 (Copepoda: Philichthyidae) parasitic in the interorbital canals of the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest) (Sciaenidae) off Brazil with an amended diagnosis of the genus.

A new species of the monotypic genus Leposphilus Hesse, 1866 (Cyclopoida: Philichthyidae), Leposphilus vogti n. sp., is described based on adult female and male specimens from the interorbital canals of Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest) (Sciaenidae) in Sepetiba Bay, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The new species differs from its only congener, L. labrei Hesse, 1866, by the following combination of characters in the adult female: a globular cephalosome, a two-segmented maxilla, and fourth abdominal somite fused to caudal ramus; and in the adult male: presence of maxilliped, leg 3 with five setae, and caudal rami tipped with six setae. In addition, an amendment of diagnosis of Leposphilus is provided based on the characters of the new species. Previous records of philichthyid copepods from actinopterygians in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans off the American continent are also given.

Tidal-Flat Macrobenthos as Diets of the Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica in Western Japan, with a Note on the Occurrence of a Parasitic Nematode Heliconema anguillae in Eel Stomachs.

Dietary items of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica inhabiting estuaries were examined by analyses of the gut (stomach and intestine) contents in two areas in Kyushu, western Japan. In a small estuary in Kagoshima Bay, where seven eel guts were examined, almost all of the dietary organisms consisted of Hemigrapsus crabs and Hediste polychaetes, both of which commonly occurred on tidal flats of this site during our survey on the macrobenthic fauna. In another large estuary in the innermost part of the Ariake Sea, where 14 eel guts were examined, 11 macrobenthic species (nine crustaceans, a polychaete, and a gastropod) were found in the gut contents, mostly consisting of mudflat-specific species. The dietary items are almost completely different not only between the two estuaries, but also among three neighboring sites within the large estuary in the Ariake Sea. These results show that Japanese eels feed on various macrobenthic invertebrates inhabiting estuarine tidal flats at each site. The variety of the prey species occupying different habitats indicates that their foraging areas extend to a wide range of estuarine tidal flats from the upper to lower littoral zones. The physalopterid nematode Heliconema anguillae was found parasitic in eel stomachs in both estuaries. The prevalence of the nematode was higher in the estuary in Kagoshima Bay (100%) than that in the Ariake Sea (43%), although the intensity in the former (4-94 nematodes per infected stomach) was comparable to that of the latter (2-96). The relationship between the nematode infection and the dietary items of Japanese eels is discussed.

Life-cycle of Choniomyzon inflatus Wakabayashi, Otake, Tanaka & Nagasawa, 2013 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Nicothoidae) with the morphological descriptions of the nauplius, copepodid and adult male.

Choniomyzon inflatus Wakabayashi, Otake, Tanaka & Nagasawa, 2013 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Nicothoidae), an associate of the scyllarid lobster Ibacus novemdentatus Gibbes, was found to pass through at least four developmental stages: nauplius, copepodid I (CI), copepodid II or later (CII+) and adult. Free-living nauplii were observed hatching from the ovisacs of adult females. CI was found on the body surface of both female and male hosts, whereas CII+ and adult were obtained from the female host's egg masses. The life-cycle of this copepod is presumed to be as follows: (i) nauplius develops into CI in the water column; (ii) infective CI settles on body surface of host; (iii) CI moults into the following stage, changing its microhabitat from host's body surface to egg masses; (iv) CII+ develops on egg masses of host until adult stage; and (v) adult female and male mate on the host's egg masses.