Morphological and molecular diversity patterns of the genus Tropodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 (Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae) in Thailand.

Tropodiaptomus is one of the most specious genera in the family Diaptomidae, but it is often rare in terms of distribution and abundance. Moreover, Tropodiaptomus species show a noteworthy variability in some of the morphological characters considered of prime importance in diaptomid taxonomy, and the presence of cryptic or pseudocryptic species is likely. Thus, through a geographically-wide sampling in Thailand, we aimed to investigate the local diversity of the genus and to compare the morphological and molecular diversity pattern based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes sequences. DNA taxonomy was also implemented in order to check whether the Tropodiaptomus lineages were independent species according to the "evolutionary genetic species concept". Six Tropodiaptomus morphospecies were found, three of which are putative species new to Science pending a formal description. The finding of such a high incidence of undescribed species stresses the existence of a significant "Linnean shortfall" affecting Thai diaptomids. The molecular results showed that most of the studied species could be identified consistently with their morphology-based taxonomy. However, Tropodiaptomus vicinus and T. cf. lanaonus showed a high level of genetic diversity, suggesting that traditional morphological techniques might be inadequate for correctly assessing their taxonomical status.

Choreftria shiranui, a new genus and species of cyclopoid copepod (Crustacea: Copepoda) associated with the worm goby from southern Japan, with the proposal of a new family.

A new genus and species of cyclopoid copepod, Choreftria shiranui n. g., n. sp. (Crustacea: Copepoda) is described based on an adult female found from the worm goby, Taenioides snyderi Jordan & Hubbs (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Gobiidae), from mud flats in the Yatsushiro Sea, southern Japan. The new genus is characterized by bearing the following characters in the female: body distinctly segmented cyclopiform with 4-segmented prosome and 6-segmented urosome; genital somite clearly separated from first abdominal somite; antennule 7-segmented; antenna 4-segmented with one fused serrated claw and long claw on second endopodal segment; mandible reduced with one serrated blade; maxillule rod-like with one element; maxilla 2-segmented with recurved terminal claw; maxilliped 2-segmented; legs 1 to 4 biramous with 3-segmented rami. Since the copepod is not attributable to any of the known cyclopoid families, a new family, Choreftriidae n. fam. is established to accommodate Choreftria n. g. LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C1FB9F60-9871-4D4B-A1BF-3202BA24189F.

Evolutionary history of inversions in directional mutational pressures in crustacean mitochondrial genomes: Implications for evolutionary studies.

Inversions of the origin of replication (ORI) in mitochondrial genomes produce asymmetrical mutational pressures that can cause strong base composition skews. Due to skews often being overlooked, the total number of crustacean lineages that underwent ORI events remains unknown. We analysed skews, cumulative skew plots, conserved sequence motifs, and mitochondrial architecture of all 965 available crustacean mitogenomes (699 unique species). We found indications of an ORI in 159 (22.7%) species, and mapped these to 23 ORI events: 16 identified with confidence and 7 putative (13 newly proposed, and for 5 we improved the resolution). Two ORIs occurred at or above the order level: Isopoda and Copepoda. Shifts in skew plots are not a precise tool for identifying the replication mechanism. We discuss how ORIs can produce mutational bursts in mitogenomes and show how these can interfere with various types of evolutionary studies. Phylogenetic analyses were plagued by artefactual clustering, and ORI lineages exhibited longer branches, a higher number of synonymous substitutions, higher mutational saturation, and higher compositional heterogeneity. ORI events also affected codon usage and protein properties. We discuss how this may have caused erroneous interpretation of data in previous studies that did not account for skew patterns.

Integrative taxonomy of a new species of Therodamas (Ergasilidae) infecting the Amazonian freshwater fish Leporinus fasciatus (Anostomidae).

Crustaceans of the subclass Copepoda are an important component of the invertebrate aquatic fauna. They occur in all aquatic environments and include some representatives that are free-living organisms and others that have a parasitic lifestyle. The genus Therodamas comprises marine and freshwater copepods whose females are parasites of fish in their adult phase, with only seven species described so far. During a field survey of fish parasites in the Jari River, a large tributary of the Amazon River system, in Brazil, we found a new species of the genus Therodamas infecting Leporinus fasciatus. Therodamas longicollum n. sp. is the second strictly freshwater species known. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the new species is grouped in the family Ergasilidae, and divergence estimates showed that T. longicollum n. sp. diverged from its ancestor at around 66.34 Ma, in the late Upper Cretaceous. Therodamas longicollum n. sp. differs from its congeneric in that it does not have lobes and/or expansion of the anterior neck region. Besides describing a new Therodamas species, thereby increasing the diversity of the genus to eight species, this study points out the existence of a lineage of these copepods that has adapted to the freshwater environment of the Amazon. This study also corroborates the genus Therodamas as part of the family Ergasilidae.

A new Entomolepididae genus and a new species of Spongiopsyllus Johnsson, 2000 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida) and their association with Aplysina Nardo, 1834 (Porifera, Demospongiae) in Todos-os-Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil.

The Entomolepididae family is a small taxon with a very characteristic body morphology and is represented, in the Atlantic Ocean, by three genera and five species. A recent study in Todos-os-Santos Bay, in Bahia State, has revealed a new species of Spongiopsyllus and a new species and genus belonging to the Entomolepididae. The new species of Spongiopsyllus is found in association with the sponge Aplysina cauliformis (Carter, 1882) sampled at the Porto da Barra beach. It is distinguished from its congeners mainly by differences in the segmentation pattern of the antennule, endopod of antenna, and the setation of the maxillule, maxilla and maxilliped. The new genus and species from Parmulodinae Eiselt, 1959 is found in association with the sponge Aplysina solangeae Pinheiro, Hajdu Custódio, 2007, sampled at the Yacht Club Beach. The genus differs from others Parmulodinae mainly due to segmentation pattern of the antennule, endopod of antenna, maxilliped and swimming legs.

A new species of Bestiolina (Copepoda, Calanoida, Paracalanidae) and complementary description of B. similis (Sewell, 1914) from the Nansei Islands, Japan.

Two species of the calanoid copepod genus Bestiolina occurred in estuarine/coastal waters of the Nansei Islands, southernmost Japan. One of them is described herein as Bestiolina okinawae sp. nov., which is distinguished from known congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: 1) fifth pedigerous somite bearing groups of tiny spinules on the posterior end, 2) female mandible bearing a rod-shaped first gnathal tooth, 3) male left leg 5 with short apical spine on long terminal segment, and 4) legs 23 with endopodal segment 2 lacking spinules. The new species was the dominant zooplankter in oligohaline waters. The other species is morphologically identifiable to Bestiolina similis (Sewell, 1914). Genetic analysis using COI revealed that the two species differed by 9.910.0%, in contrast to small intra-specific genetic variation (0.01.5%). The two species were spatially segregated in low-salinity (230) estuaries and high-salinity (2536) coastal waters, respectively, but co-occurred in some samples. Their body length decreased from the winter (around 20°C) to the summer (around 30°C) by 9.518.1%, depending on the species and sex. In both species, adult males, which lack mandibular gnathobase, were larger than the adult females.

Copepods (Cyclopoida) associated with ascidian hosts: Ascidicolidae, Buproridae, Botryllophilidae, and Enteropsidae, with descriptions of 84 new species.

The Monniot collection of copepods associated with ascidian hosts was built up over several decades of field collecting and taxonomic research on ascidians by Drs Claude Françoise Monniot (MNHN, Paris). This paper describes a total of 84 new species of copepods collected from ascidian hosts and five new genera are established. Prior to this study the family Ascidicolidae comprised two genera accommodating five valid species; here we add two new genera, Hamistyelicola gen. nov. and Bathycopola gen. nov., and eight new species in total. The family Buproridae comprised a single genus consisting of three species; here we add a new monotypic genus, Buprorides gen. nov. The family Botryllophilidae comprised 68 valid species in seven genera and here we add 45 new species; 13 of Botryllophilus Hesse, 1864, nine of Schizoproctus Aurivillius, 1885, three of Haplostomides Chatton Harant, 1924, 12 of Haplostoma Chatton Harant, 1924, seven of Haplostomella Chatton Harant, 1924 and a single new species of Haplosaccus Chatton Harant, 1924. The Enteropsidae comprised 42 species in five genera and here we add two new genera, Monnioticopa gen. nov. and Periboia gen. nov., plus a total of 30 new species; 15 of Enterocola van Beneden, 1860, two of Enterocolides Chatton Harant, 1922, five of Enteropsis C.W.S. Aurivillius, 1885, five of Monnioticopa gen. nov., two of Mychophilus Hesse, 1865, plus the type species of Periboia gen. nov. Generic diagnoses are provided for all genera represented in the collection. A further 13 known species are also reported and brief supplementary descriptive notes or full redescriptions are provided, as appropriate.

Sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) from South Africa, with descriptions of two new species of Caligus.

Thirteen species of sea lice (family Caligidae) are reported from a range of elasmobranch and actinopterygian fishes caught off South Africa or obtained from public aquaria in South Africa. Two new species of Caligus Müller, 1785 are described: C. linearis n. sp. from Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) and C. tumulus n. sp. from Chrysoblephus cristiceps (Valenciennes). A supplementary description is provided for both sexes of Caligus tetrodontis Barnard, 1948 taken from Amblyrhynchotes honckenii (Bloch) and previous records of this parasite from South African fishes are critically reviewed. It is concluded that Caligus material from Arothron hispidus Linnaeus was previously misidentified as C. tetrodontis and is in urgent need of re-examination. Morphological and molecular observations on Caligus furcisetifer Redkar, Rangnekar & Murti, 1949 indicate that this copepod is phenotypically and genetically identical to Lepeophtheirus natalensis Kensley & Grindley, 1973, and the latter becomes a junior subjective synonym of C. furcisetifer. We include new geographical distribution records for Caligus longipedis Bassett-Smith, 1898, C. rufimaculatus Wilson, 1905 and Lepeophtheirus spinifer Kirtisinghe, 1937, extending into South African waters, as well as both new distribution and host records for Alebion gracilis Wilson, 1905, Caligus dakari van Beneden, 1892 and Lepeophtheirus acutus Heegaard, 1943. The molecular analysis confirmed the monophyly of the genus Caligus. The South African species of Caligus did not cluster together, but the two included South African species of Lepeophtheirus were recovered as sister taxa.

Parasitic copepods Caligus lacustris (Copepoda: Caligidae) on the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in cage aquaculture: morphology, population demography, and first insights into phylogenetic relationships.

Herein, data on rainbow trout infections with the copepod Caligus lacustris in cage aquaculture on Lake Ladoga is presented. Caligus lacustris (n = 127 ex.) were collected from a farm in Lake Ladoga housing cage-reared rainbow trout to describe the size-age and sex structure of the copepod population. Morphological features of the copepods were evaluated according to 10 characters with terminology proposed by Kabata and Gusev (J Linn Soc (Zool) 46(309):155-207, 1966). To determine the phylogenetic position of C. lacustris within the genus Caligus, fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (COI, 645 bp) and 18S rRNA gene (1617 bp) were sequenced. An increase of parasite prevalence was observed as the lake was warming up from July to September. The morphological features of the crustacean's larval and adult stages, characterized by specific parameters of quantitative traits, are described. Three COI haplotypes and only one 18S rRNA haplotype of C. lacustris were identified among five samples. Based on 18S rRNA analysis (resolution of the COI tree was poor), we can conclude that the clade containing C. lacustris, and the aforementioned sister species, appears as an early radiation of the genus Caligus. The development of freshwater aquaculture contributes to the transfer of the native parasite C. lacustris to farmed rainbow trout.

New arietellid copepods (Calanoida, Arietellidae) from anchialine caves in the Eastern Adriatic Sea.

Two new species of calanoid copepods are described; Metacalanus adriaticus sp. nov. from an anchialine cave on Vis Island, and Paramisophria tvrtkovici sp. nov. from Orljak Cave, located in the lower part of River Krka estuary, near the town of Sibenik (Croatia). This is the first report of arietellid copepods found in any anchialine cave along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. In M. adriaticus sp. nov. the antennules are asymmetrical in both sexes (the female left antennule is 18-segmented, right 20-segmented; male left 16-segmented and right 20-segmented); the uniramous fifth legs of the female are 2-segmented; the terminal segment of the fifth leg in both sexes is the longest; and in the male the fifth leg exopod is 2-segmented. In P. tvrtkovici sp. nov. the antennules of both sexes are asymmetrical with the left antennule longer than the right, the female antennule is 21-segmented on both sides; the male left antennule is 19-segmented, the right 21-segmented; the armature of the terminal exopod segment of leg 1 is II, 2 ,2; the male fifth legs have a rudimentary endopod on the left leg, the third exopodal segment is smallest and bears three unequal processes on its outer margin, and the terminal spine is completely separated from the segment. On the right leg the third segment carries two short, unequal processes on its outer distal margin, as well as a long sigmoidal spine which is fused to the segment. It is inferred that, after the last glaciation, these new Arietellids moved out from their southern Adriatic refuge, colonizing first the anchialine habitats of the outer eastern Adriatic islands and then spreading along the coast.

A complete enzymatic capacity for biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22 : 6n-3) exists in the marine Harpacticoida copepod Tigriopus californicus.

The long-standing paradigm establishing that global production of Omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) derived almost exclusively from marine single-cell organisms, was recently challenged by the discovery that multiple invertebrates possess methyl-end (or ωx) desaturases, critical enzymes enabling the biosynthesis of n-3 LC-PUFA. However, the question of whether animals with ωx desaturases have complete n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthetic pathways and hence can contribute to the production of these compounds in marine ecosystems remained unanswered. In the present study, we investigated the complete enzymatic complement involved in the n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthesis in Tigriopus californicus, an intertidal harpacticoid copepod. A total of two ωx desaturases, five front-end desaturases and six fatty acyl elongases were successfully isolated and functionally characterized. The T. californicus ωx desaturases enable the de novo biosynthesis of C18 PUFA such as linoleic and α-linolenic acids, as well as several n-3 LC-PUFA from n-6 substrates. Functions demonstrated in front-end desaturases and fatty acyl elongases unveiled various routes through which T. californicus can biosynthesize the physiologically important arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids. Moreover, T. californicus possess a Δ4 desaturase, enabling the biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid via the 'Δ4 pathway'. In conclusion, harpacticoid copepods such as T. californicus have complete n-3 LC-PUFA biosynthetic pathways and such capacity illustrates major roles of these invertebrates in the provision of essential fatty acids to upper trophic levels.

Roles of three putative salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) prostaglandin E2 synthases in physiology and host-parasite interactions.

BACKGROUND: The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is a parasite of salmonid fish. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) exhibit only a limited and ineffective immune response when infested with this parasite. Prostaglandins (PGs) have many biological functions in both invertebrates and vertebrates, one of which is the regulation of immune responses. This has led to the suggestion that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is important in the salmon louse host-parasite interaction, although studies of a salmon louse prostaglandin E2 synthase (PGES) 2 gene have not enabled conformation of this hypothesis. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to characterize two additional PGES-like genes. METHODS: Lepeophtheirus salmonis microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 like (LsMGST1L) and LsPGES3L were investigated by sequencing, phylogenetics, transcript localization and expression studies. Moreover, the function of these putative PGES genes in addition to the previously identified LsPGES2 gene was analyzed in double stranded (ds) RNA-mediated knockdown (KD) salmon louse. RESULTS: Analysis of the three putative LsPGES genes showed a rather constitutive transcript level throughout development from nauplius to the adult stages, and in a range of tissues, with the highest levels in the ovaries or gut. DsRNA-mediated KD of these transcripts did not produce any characteristic changes in phenotype, and KD animals displayed a normal reproductive output. The ability of the parasite to infect or modulate the immune response of the host fish was also not affected by KD. CONCLUSIONS: Salmon louse prostaglandins may play endogenous roles in the management of reproduction and oxidative stress and may be a product of salmon louse blood digestions.

New species of Ergasilus von Nordmann, 1832 (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) from the gills of freshwater fishes in Patagonia, Argentina.

A new parasitic copepod, Ergasilus yandemontei n. sp., is described based on 10 adult females collected from the gills of the atherinid silverside Odontesthes hatcheri (Eigenmann), in Lake Pellegrini, Neuquén Province, Patagonia, Argentina. This new copepod species is characterized by having: (i) a 2-segmented endopod on leg 1; (ii) a semi pinnate seta on the terminal segment of the exopod of leg 1; (iii) a reduced leg 5 with a single seta; (iv) aesthetascs on antennule, 1 aesthetasc on the sixth segment and 1 on the fourth segment. Ergasilus yandemontei n. sp. represents the first species described from Patagonian freshwaters. Ergasilus sieboldi var. patagonicus Szidat, 1956 described from Lake Pellegrini, should be considered a synonym of the new species described herein.

A new Bradophila Marchenkov, 2002 (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Bradophilidae) parasitic on a flabelligerid polychaete from the Chukchi Sea.

The cyclopoid copepod family Bradophilidae includes a few species of mesoparasitic copepods infecting flabelligerid polychaetes. It contains two species of Bradophila Levinsen, 1878, the type genus: B. pygmaea Levinsen, 1878 and B. minuta Boxshall, O'Reilly, Sikorski & Summerfield, 2019, both known from North Europe. Two other genera (i.e., Trophoniphila M'Intosh, 1885 and Flabellicola Gravier, 1918) have some affinities with this family including their host preference. Mesoparasitic copepods are highly specialized, morphologically reduced forms. Part of their body (endosoma) is partially lodged in the host body and the other part is external (ectosoma); both parts are connected by an intersomital stalk. Infection by these copepods can be readily detected by the presence of the egg-carrying ectosoma on the host external surface. From the analysis of flabelligerid polychaetes collected in 2012 from the Chukchi Sea, two ovigerous female individuals of a bradophilid copepod were recorded. These specimens were recognized as representative of an undescribed species of Bradophila. The new species, B. susanae n. sp., shows the generic diagnostic characters and differs from its two other known congeners in several respects, including the cuticular ectosomal ornamentation, body proportions, size of the intersomital stalk, position of the genital pore, and shape and arrangement of egg sacs. Also, the new species ectosomal size range (0.440 - 0.450 µm) falls between the size range of its two known congeners. Our finding expands the known host range of bradophilid copepods to include a new flabelligerid host, Bradabyssa nuda (Annenkova-Chlopina) from the Russsian Arctic region.

Microbial dynamics of elevated carbon flux in the open ocean's abyss.

In the open ocean, elevated carbon flux (ECF) events increase the delivery of particulate carbon from surface waters to the seafloor by severalfold compared to other times of year. Since microbes play central roles in primary production and sinking particle formation, they contribute greatly to carbon export to the deep sea. Few studies, however, have quantitatively linked ECF events with the specific microbial assemblages that drive them. Here, we identify key microbial taxa and functional traits on deep-sea sinking particles that correlate positively with ECF events. Microbes enriched on sinking particles in summer ECF events included symbiotic and free-living diazotrophic cyanobacteria, rhizosolenid diatoms, phototrophic and heterotrophic protists, and photoheterotrophic and copiotrophic bacteria. Particle-attached bacteria reaching the abyss during summer ECF events encoded metabolic pathways reflecting their surface water origins, including oxygenic and aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and proteorhodopsin-based photoheterotrophy. The abundances of some deep-sea bacteria also correlated positively with summer ECF events, suggesting rapid bathypelagic responses to elevated organic matter inputs. Biota enriched on sinking particles during a spring ECF event were distinct from those found in summer, and included rhizaria, copepods, fungi, and different bacterial taxa. At other times over our 3-y study, mid- and deep-water particle colonization, predation, degradation, and repackaging (by deep-sea bacteria, protists, and animals) appeared to shape the biotic composition of particles reaching the abyss. Our analyses reveal key microbial players and biological processes involved in particle formation, rapid export, and consumption, that may influence the ocean's biological pump and help sustain deep-sea ecosystems.

Caligus tunisiensis n. sp. (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on the painted comber Serranus scriba (L.) (Perciformes: Serranidae) from the Mediterranean Sea, off the Tunisian coast.

A new species of parasitic copepod, Caligus tunisiensis n. sp. (Caligidae), is described based on two female specimens collected from the gills of the painted comber, Serranus scriba (L.), caught in the Mediterranean Sea, off the Tunisian coasts. The new species belongs to the Caligus productus-species group established by Boxshall & Gurney (1980) as it shares the following set of character states: (i) antenna with well-developed posterior process on proximal segment; (ii) posterior margin of distal exopodal segment of leg 1 lacking typical plumose setae, or retaining single vestigial seta; and (iii) 2-segmented exopod of leg 4 armed with IV spines on compound distal exopodal segment. Detailed morphological comparisons between the new species and the core members of the C. productus-species group revealed that the new species closely resembles with C. productus Dana, 1852 and C. temnodontis Brian, 1924. However, the new species can be distinguished from its congeners in having: (i) a female maxilliped bearing a prominent bi-lobate myxal process, opposing tip of the claw; (ii) leg 4 protopod ornamented with a patch of spinules on the posterolateral surface; and (iii) an abdomen ornamented with two rows of minute spinules at the posterolateral corners.

Sea lice (Copepoda: Caligidae) of Turkey, with the discovery of Caligus quadratus Shiino, 1954 in the Mediterranean Sea and the re-description of a rare caligid copepod, Caligus scribae Essafi, Cabral & Raibaut, 1984.

The current status of the caligid copepods parasitic on marine fishes off Turkey is reviewed and an updated checklist comprising a total of 24 species, belonging to three different genera, Caligus O. F. Müller, 1785, Euryphorus H. Milne Edwards, 1840 and Lepeophtheirus von Nordmann, 1832, is presented together with habitus illustrations and a key to all 24 species. Two of the species of caligids listed herein constitute new records for Turkish waters. The first, Caligus quadratus Shiino, 1954, a well-known species of the genus, was collected from the common dolphin fish, Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus. The second, Caligus scribae Essafi, Cabral & Raibaut, 1984, a very rare and poorly known member of the genus, was sampled from a new teleost host, the parrot fish, Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus). Both fish species were caught in north-eastern Mediterranean waters off the Turkish coast. Caligus quadratus is only briefly described based on key diagnostic characters whereas a full re-description is provided for C. scribae, as the only description available for this species is incomplete and lacks detail. Sparisoma cretense is a new host record for C. scribae. In addition, this is the first report of C. quadratus from the Mediterranean.

Pseudanuretes anfoozi n. sp. (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from the yellowbar angelfish Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål) in coral reefs off Iraq.

A new species of Pseudanuretes Yamaguti, 1936 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on the gills of the yellowbar angelfish Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål) from a coral reef off Iraq, north-western Arabian Gulf, is described. Pseudanuretes anfoozi n. sp. belongs within a group of species characterised by the spear-like structure of leg 4. Morphologically P. anfoozi n. sp. is similar to P. papernai Kabata & Deets, 1988 in possessing an armature of I,6 on the third exopodal segment of leg 2 rather than I,7 in the other species of this group. However, P. anfoozi n. sp. can be distinguished from P. papernai by the possession of only 5 caudal setae instead of 6, and in the shape of the caudal rami, which are shorter and wider in new species. In addition, these two species differ in the shape of the genital complex of the adult female.

Neoalbionella izawai n. sp. from the smallfin gulper shark Centrophorus moluccensis Bleeker and additional host records for N. etmopteri (Yamaguti, 1939) off South Africa.

Neoalbionella Özdikmen, 2008 comprises 10 accepted species, which all infect sharks of Squaliformes and Carcharhiniformes. Adult females belonging to species of Neoalbionella, based on the maxillule palp armed with three setae and the maxilliped subchela claw with only one secondary denticle, were collected from sharks off the coast of South Africa. Neoalbionella izawai n. sp. collected from the anterodorsal part of the spiracle opening of Centrophorus moluccensis Bleeker differs from its congeners by having maxillae that are separated except at the tapering tips where they are fused and that are longer than the trunk, uropods originating from the pointed posterior margin of the trunk and that are well developed, and maxillipeds without an additional spine at the base of the subchela barb. Neoalbionella etmopteri (Yamaguti, 1939) is herein reported from two new hosts (Etmopterus spp.) off South Africa.

A redescription of the female of Lernaeopoda bivia Leigh-Sharpe, 1930 (Lernaeopodidae: Siphonostomatoida) and a first description of the male.

Within the family Lernaeopodidae Milne Edwards, 1840 the females of Lernaeopoda spp. are very similar to those of Neoalbionella spp. Contrarily, the male morphology is different enough to allow distinction between species of the two genera. Unfortunately, males are not always attached to collected females and therefore often not described. Hence the validity of some of the Lernaeopoda spp. are still questionable due to incomplete descriptions of the female and no description of the male. Lernaeopoda bivia Leigh-Sharpe, 1930 is an example of an accepted species due to a redescription of the female done in 1986 but without a description of the male. Lernaeopoda bivia has only been reported twice, collected from Schroederichthys bivius (Müller & Henle). Recently, females with attached males were collected from Triakis semifaciata Girard from Inner Cabrillo Beach in southern California. The female morphology of L. bivia is similar to the previous redescription with some additional features and illustrations while the male conforms to the morphology of males of Lernaeopoda spp. The dental formula of males and females of the species of the genus differ with males having one P1, S1 less than females. The structure and armature of the appendages of the three described species of males (L. galei Krøyer, 1837, L. bidiscalis Kane, 1892 and L. bivia) is mostly similar with the tympanal membrane of the three species the most distinctive feature. A key to identify the females of the valid species of Lernaeopoda is provided.