Couto, J.V., J.L.S. Nunes, F. Paschoal & F.B. Pereira. (2024). Acusicola rochai n. sp. (Copepoda: Ergasilidae) parasitizing Anableps anableps (Anablepidae) from the Amazon Coast, with a key for Acusicola spp. Journal Of The Marine Biological Association Of The United Kingdom. 104:1-10. Aug 2024.

490419

10.1017/S0025315424000560 [view]

Couto, J.V., J.L.S. Nunes, F. Paschoal & F.B. Pereira

2024

104:1-10. Aug 2024

Publication

Available for editors   [request]

Ergasilid copepods represent one of the commonest groups of fish parasites in Brazil. Within Ergasilidae, three genera share a peculiar latching mechanism on the antenna that completely encircles the gill filament, one of which is Acusicola Cressey, 1970. During a survey of estuarine fish from the Brazilian Amazon Coast, a new species of Acusicola was found on the gills of the largescale foureyes Anableps anableps (Linnaeus, 1758) (Actinopterygii: Anablepidae) in Sao Marcos Bay, State of Maranhao. Acusicola rochai n. sp. can be distinguished from its closest congeners mainly by three protrusions on the dorsal surface of third and fourth pedigerous somites, and by smooth interpodal plates. This work is the first report of a parasitic copepod infesting a fish from Anablepidae and, consequently, the host An. anableps. The existing dichotomous key proposed for the genus Acusicola includes only ten species, excluding the eight species subsequently described. Therefore, in the present work, a new dichotomous key is provided based on reliable and well-documented features.

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