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THREE SPECIES OF LERNAEOPODIDAE (COPEPODA)
PARASITIC ON FISHES OF JAPAN, WITH PROPOSITION
OF A NEW GENUS AND DISCUSSION OF
CHAROPINOPSIS YAMAGUTI, 1963
Ho, Ju-shey; Do, Tran-the
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SETO MARINE BIOLOGICAL
LABORATORY (1984), 29(4-6): 333-358
1984-10-31
http://hdl.handle.net/2433/176090
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Departmental Bulletin Paper
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Kyoto University
THREE SPECIES OF LERNAEOPODIDAE (COPEPODA) PARASITIC
ON FISHES OF JAPAN, WITH PROPOSITION OF A NEW GENUS
AND DISCUSSION OF CHAROPINOPSIS YAMAGUTI, 1963
Ju-SHEY HO
Department of Biology, California State University,
Long Beach, California, 90840, U.S.A.
and
TRAN THE
DO
Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo,
Nakano-ku, Tokyo, 164, Japan
With Text-figures 1-16
In 1980 and 1981, one of us (TTD) conducted a survey of copepod parasites of
the fishes of Kojima Bay in Okayama Prefecture. He examined 770 fishes (in 54
species) and recovered from them 42 species of copepod parasites. Twelve of these
Kojima Bay parasites have already been treated elsewhere (Tran The Do, 1981; Tran
The Do and Kasahara, 1982; Ho and Tran The Do, 1982; Tran The Do and Ho, in
press; Ho, Tran The Do and Kasahara, in press). In this report, we shall deal with
three species of the collected parasites that belong to the Family Lernaeopodidae.
In the course of our study of these newly collected Japanese lernaeopodids, we felt
the necessity of reexamining the specimens of Brachiella elegans Richiardi that were
reported by Wilson (1915) from Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Unexpectedly, this
reexamination of Wilson's material led us to establish a new genus, Eobrachiella, for
accommodation of one of the three lernaeopodids from Kojima Bay. We have also
discovered that the character states of Charopinopsis, which was erected by Yamaguti
(1963) for accommodation of a spurious Charopinus species (C. quaterina Wilson, 1935),
needed to be reconsidered. A discussion on this matter was made possible through
a study of the collection of Charopinopsis quaterina (Wilson) that was made by one of
us (JSH), off Key West, Florida.
We adopt Kabata's (1979) terminology in the present treatment of the Japanese lernaeopodids,
except for the posteriormost paired structures called "uropods." We disagree with Kabata in calling
them "uropods", because we consider them not to be homologous to the malacostracan uropods,
which are the last pair of the abdominal appendages located at the posteriormost part of the growth
zone. Since the posteriormost paired structure~ in all modern copepods are carried by the anal somite,
'which is located posterior to the growth zone, they can not be treated as homologous to the uropods.
Thus, we shall follow the traditional terminology and call this paired structures the caudal rami.
The type specimen has been deposited in the United States National Museum of Natural History,
Publ. Seto Mar. Biol. Lab., XXIX (4/6), 333-358, 1984.
(Article 9)
334
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. We would like to thank Dr. Shin-ichi Uye of the Faculty
of Applied Biological Science, Hiroshima University for supplying us fishes for parasite examination
and Dr. Shogoro Kasahara of the same institution for the use offacilities in his laboratory for carrying
out the preliminary work of this report. We are indebted to Dr. Roger F. Cressey of the United States
National Museum of Natural History for arranging the loan of the specimens of "Brachiella elegans
Richiardi."
Neobrachiella trichiuri (Yamaguti, 1939)
(Figs. 1-3)
Material examined: Two ovigerous females, each carrying a dwarf male, found in oral cavity of
2 Trichiurus lepturus L. caught on 22 July, 1980.
Female: Body (Fig. IA) consisting of a long, cylindrical cephalothorax, a
subcylindrical trunk, and two pairs of posterior processes. Head covered with a
dorsal shield (Fig. lD). Cephalothorax bearing a pair of prominent lateral spherical
swellings at the base where the second maxillae arise (Figs. lB, 2G). Trunk longer
than wide and connected to cephalothorax by a short neck that bears two pairs of
small nodules (see Fig. lB). Posterior end of trunk truncate (Fig. lC), bearing a
short genital process between ventral pair of posterior processes, which are about 2/3
the length of the dorsal pair. Caudal ramus absent. Measurements of two specimens (in mm): cephalothorax length 2.20; width 0.56, 0.70; second maxilla 0.58,
0.68; trunk length 1.75, 1.95; width 1.24, 1.78; genital process 0.34, 0.35; dorsal
posterior process length 2.40, 2.62; ventral posterior process length 1.45, 1.90; egg sac
length 1.35, 3.40; width 0.48, 0. 70.
First antenna (Fig. IE) 4-segmented, with robust, unarmed basal segment;
second and third segments each armed with 1 seta; and terminal segment (Fig. IF)
with 3 tubercles, 1 digitiform seta and 4 flagelliform setae. Second antenna (Fig.
2A) consisting of a large protopod and two extremely unequally developed rami;
exopod (Fig. 2B) large, fleshy, covered with spinules and bearing 2 small subterminal papillae; and endopod (Fig. 2C) small, bearing distally a patch of spinules
and 2 spines. Tip of labrum (Fig. 2D) with a tuft ofsetules surrounding the spinous,
central rostrum. Mandible (Fig. 2E) with 3 primary, 2 secondary, and 5 basal
teeth. First maxilla (Fig. 2F) with small exopod tipped with 2 setae and a large
endopod bearing terminally 2 large papillae and l small seta; dorsal surface of endopod expanded and spinulose. Second maxillae (Figs. lB, 2G) short and fused, with
prominent excretory duct. Maxilliped (Fig. 2H) 2-segmented; corpus (basal segment) bearing a spiniform seta and a patch of spinules on its medial surface; subchela (terminal segment) bearing a prominent basal seta and a slender barb accompanied by a patch of spinules at its base. (Fig. 21); terminal claw slender, without secondary teeth.
Body (Fig. 3A) measuring 670 X 335 ttm, with a distinct constriction
between cephalothorax and trunk. Caudal ramus lacking. First antenna (Fig.
3B) without inflated basal segment, armature generally as in female, only different
Male:
Three Species
of Lemaeopodidae
Fig. 1. Neobrachiella trichiuri (Yamaguti, 1939), female. A, habitus, lateral; B, base
of cephalothorax, lateral; C, posterior part of body, ventral; D, anterior part of
cephalothorax, dorsal; E, first antenna; F, tip of first antenna. Scale: 0.5 mm
in A, C; 0.2 mm in B, D; 20Jlm in E; lOJlm in F.
335
336
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
l
I
l
__
"l
.
G
,..,~,;~"I
I-~11
~ l~~- ,,...._~\...
}
I
_J
t
~\
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~\.,--,-;f)\
',
h;t:~y-~' ~)
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t'
i (
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~~~A J
it!'"{'\\\
Fig. 2. Neobrachiella trichiuri (Yamaguti, 1939), female. A, second antenna; B, tip of
second antenna; C, tip of second antenna endopod; D, tip of labrum; E, tip
of mandible; F, first maxilla; G, second maxillae, ventral; H, maxilliped; I,
tip ofmaxilliped. Scale: 0.1 mm in A; 50 ,urn in B; 20,um inC, D, F, I; 7 ,urn in.
E; 0.2 mm in G; 50 ,urn in H.
Three Species
of Lernaeopodidae
Fig. 3. Neobrachiella trichiuri (Yamaguti, 1939), male. A, habitus, lateral; B, first
antenna; C, tip of first antenna; D, second antenna; E, tip of second antenna
endopod; F, tip of mandible; G, first maxilla; H, second maxilla; I, maxilliped; J, tip of maxilliped. Scale: 0.1 mm in A; 20 ttm in B, D, G, J; 7 ttm in
C; 8 ttm in E; 5 ttm in F; 50 ttm in H, I.
337
338
j.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
in having relatively larger tubercles at distal end (Fig. 3C). Second antenna (Fig.
3D) bearing two bands of spinules on posteroinner surface, one on protopod and
another one on endopod; exopod bearing 2 subterminal papillae on its outer surface
and a patch of spinules on inner surface; endopod apparently 2-segmented, distal
segment (Fig. 3E) armed with a recurved hook, 2 spines, 1 seta, and a patch of dentides. Mandible (Fig. 3F) generally as in female. First maxilla (Fig. 3G) different
from female in having unornamented dorsal surface in endopod. Second maxilla
(Fig. 3H) 2-segmented; corpus quadrangular, with concave distomedial corner accommodating tip of subchela, which is unarmed. Maxilliped (Fig. 3I) also 2-segmented; massive corpus with prominent sub triangular outgrowth in distomedial
corner; subchela short, sturdy and bearing 2 small setae as shown in Fig. 3J.
Remarks. Until 1963, this species was known as «Clavellopsis trichiuri Yamaguti,
1939," a lernaeopodid found attached to the palate of Trichiurus lepturus L. ( = Trichiurus japonicus) from Toyama Bay in the Sea of Japan. Although it was later transferred by Yamaguti (1963) to Isobranchia Heegaard, 1947, the validity of Heegaard's
genus was questioned by Pillai (1968: 133) and Kabata (1979: 386). Pillai (1968:
123) stated that the Japanese C. trichiuri "undoubtedly belongs to Brachiella," but
based on Kabata's ( 1979) recent work, it should be placed in the newly erected
genus, Neobrachiella.
There is a species of«Brachiella" living in the oral cavity of the Indian ribbonfish
that has caused some confusion in the literature. The species in question was first
reported by Gnanamuthu (1951) from T. lepturus ( = T. haumela) at Madras and
called «Brachiella trichiuri." This name was used by Pillai (1962, 1968) in reporting
the same species of lernaeopodid from a different host, Lepturacanthus savala (Cuvier)
(= Trichiurus savala), at Trivandrum. However, Kirtisinghe (1964) and Rangnekar
(1967) held different view, they called their ribbonfish parasite "Clavellopsis trichiuri
Yamaguti" and treated "Brachiella trichiuri Gnanamuthu" as a junior synonym.
Pillai (1968: 123) was skeptical about this synonymy because "Clavellopsis trichiuri
Yamaguti" had never been adequately characterized. With the rediscovery of
Yamaguti's "Clavellopsis trichiuri," we can now proceed to untangle this confusion.
Since Pillai's ( 1968) work has the most adequate treatment of the Indian form"Brachiella trichiuri Gnanamuthu"-we shall compare it closely with our newly collected Japanese form-"Clavellopsis trichiuri Yamaguti."
There is not a slightest doubt that the Indian "Brachiella trichiuri" is a species
of Neobrachiella and extremely close to the Japanese Neobrachiella trichiuri redescribed
above. Our close comparison between them has yielded only two minor differences
in the fine structure of the oral appendages. The mandible of the Japanese form
(Fig. 2E) has only 2 secondary teeth and they are relatively large; however, in the
Indian form there are either two or three (illustrated with two but stated with three
in the text by Pillai) relatively small secondary teeth. The first maxilla of the Indian form does not have a patch of spinules as illustrated here in Fig. 2F for the
Japanese form. Another slight difference was detected in the relative length of the
Three Species
of Lernaeopodidae
339
two pairs of posterior processes: while they are subequal in the Indian form, the
ventral pair in the Japanese form is only about two-thirds of the dorsal pair (see
Figs. lA, 1C). Since these differences are still minute between these two forms of
allopatrically occurring lernaeopodids, we suggest to treat them as two geographic
forms, i.e. a Japanese Neobrachiella trichiuri trichiuri and an Indian Neobrachiella trichiuri
indica.
Song and Chen (1976) and Song and Kuang (1980) reported "Brachiella trichiuri
Gnanamuthu" from T. lepturus at Hainan Dao in the South China Sea. Based on
the latter report, the Chinese N. trichiuri belongs to the indica form.
Trichiurus lepturus is the most widely distributed species of ribbonfish (Trichiuridae) that lives in the tropical and subtropical seas. However, its lernaeopodid
parasite, Neobrachiella trichiuri, is so far known only from those populations occurring
in the Indo-west Pacific region. Ho and Bashirullah ( 1977) could find only a caligid
copepod, Metacaligus uruguayensis Thomsen, from the Caribbean population of T.
leptulus. Nevertheless, it is interesting to point out that the same caligid copepod is
also known from India but on another ribbonfish, Lepturacanthus asvala, which also
harbors N. trichiuri indica ( Pillai, 1962, 1968).
Neobrachiella brevicapita sp. nov.
(Figs. 4--5)
Material examined: Two ovigerous females found on gill filaments of 2 Nibea albiflora (Richardson)
collected on 11 November, 1980.
Female: Body (Figs. 4A-C) with a rather short cephalothorax and a long
trunk. A pair of prominent lateral swellings at base of cephalothorax (see Figs.
4C, D). Posterior end of trunk carrying two pairs of unequal processes, with longer
pair located lateral to egg sacs and shorter pair (=caudal ramus) ventral to egg
sacs. Genital process absent. Measurements of two specimens (in mm) : cephalothorax length 1.05, 1.15; width 0.36, 0.49; trunk length 1.83, 1.98; width 0. 72,
0.85; lateral posterior process length, 0.68, 0.81; ventral posterior process length
0.39, 0.65; egg sac length 2.03, 2.75; width 0.35, 0.4.
First antenna (Fig. 4E) 4-segmented, with inflated basal segment as in most
Neobrachiella, terminal segment (Fig. 4F) armed with 4 tubercles, 1 digitiform seta
and 2 flagelliform setae. Second antenna (Fig. 5A) with strongly deflected rami;
sympod carrying 2 small inner setae; bulbous exopod bearing an apical papilla;
and 2-segmented endopod tipped with a small hook and a slender seta (Fig. 5B).
Tip of labrum (Fig. 5C) with a tuft of setules surrounding the spinous, central rostrum. Mandible (Fig. 5D) with 2 primary teeth, 2 unequal secondary teeth and 6
basal teeth. First maxilla (Fig. 5E) with 2 large terminal papillae on endopod and
2 small setae on exopod; dorsal surface of endopod bearing a patch of spinules. Second maxilla (Fig. 5F) separated, longer than cephalothorax, and tipped with a large
bulla (Fig. 4G). Maxilliped (Fig. 5G) 2-segmented; corpus unarmed; subchela with
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
340
Neobrachiella brevicapita sp. nov., female. A, habitus, lateral; B, same, ventral;
C, same, dorsal; D, cephalothorax, dorsal; E, first antenna; F, tip of first
antenna; G, bulla. Scale: 0.5 mm in A, B, C; 0.2 mm in D, G; 20 J.lffi in E;
lOpm in F.
Fig. 4.
Three Species of Lernaeopodidae
H
Fig. 5. Neobrachiella breoicapita sp. nov., female. A, second antenna; B, tip of second
antenna; C, tip of labrum; D, tip of mandible; E, fir~t maxilla; F, second
maxillae; G, maxillipecd; H, tip of maxilliped. Scale: 50 ,urn in A; 20 ,urn in
B, E, H; lO,um inC; 7 ,urn in D, 0.2 mm in F; 0.1 mm in G.
341
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
342
distal half exposed outside of cuticular sheath and bearing a small basal seta and a
stubby distal barb; terminal claw armed with two secondary teeth (see Fig. 5H).
Male:
Unknown.
Remarks. The present species bears the closest resemblance to the Indian
Neobrachiella albida (Rangnekar) ( = Charopinus albidus), which is also parasitic on the
scianid fishes (Rangnekar, 1956; Pillai, 1962). The similarity between these two
scianid parasites are shown not only in the general appearance of the body but also
in the fine structures of the mandible, first maxilla and maxilliped. However, in
spite of their close resemblance the new species from Japan is distinguishable from
the Indian N. albida in possessing a relatively short cephalothorax that bears a pair of
lateral swellings at the base (see Fig. 4D).
Eobrachiella gen. nov.
Female: Body of Brachiella type, with cephalothorax shorter than trunk. Cephalothorax cylindrical with well developed dorsal shield. Trunk distinctly longer
than wide and bearing a pair of long, modified caudal rami and another pair of
posterolateral process. A prominent anal tubercle located between and dorsal to
genital orifices. First antenna indistinctly 4-segmented, with well developed apical
armature. Endopod of second antenna much smaller than exopod. Mandible
with three secondary teeth. First maxilla with two large and one small terminal
papillae and a small exopod tipped with two short setae. Second maxillae moderately long and separated. Maxilliped subchelate, bearing two secondary teeth on
terminal claw.
Male: Body of Neobrachiella type, with cephalothorax separated from trunk by
a waist-like constriction. Trunk fusiform and straight, ended in a pair of prominent
caudal rami. First antenna as in female. Second maxilla with equally developed
rami. Mandible with only one secondary tooth. First maxilla as in female, second
maxilla subchelate as in Neobrachiella but maxilliped long and armed as in Brachiella.
No thoracic legs.
Type-species:
Eobrachiella elegans (Richiardi, 1880)
Etymology: The generic name is a combination of the Greek eo (early) and
brachiella (arm, with diminutive ending; a generic name that is used as a suffix in
two other genera of the Lernaeopodidae), alluding to its close affinity with Brachiella.
Remarks. The most outstanding feature of this new genus is to be found in the
male. It has a Neobrachiella-form of body with Brachiella-type of maxilliped. The
female is very much like a typical Neobrachiella except for the relatively short cephalothorax.
Three Species
of Lemaeopodidae
Fig. 6. Eobrachiella elegans (Richiardi, 1880) on Seriola zonata from Woods Hole, Mas·
sachusetts; female. A, habitus, ventral; B, same, dorsal; C, same, lateral.
Scale: I mm in all drawings.
343
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
344
A
E
Fig. 7. Eobrachiella elegans (Richiardi, 1880) on Seriola zonata from Woods Hole, Massachusetts; female. A, cephalothorax, dorsal; B, posterior part of trunk, ventral;
C, same, dorsal; D, first antenna; E, tip of first antenna; F, second antenna;
G, second antenna endopod; H, tip of labrum. Scale: 0.5 mm in A, B, C; 20 pm
in D, E, G, H; 50 pm in F.
345
Three Species qf Lernaeopodidae
j
1
\
~
Fig. 8. Eobrachiella elegans (Richiardi, 1880) on Seriola zonata from Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Female: A, mandible; B, first maxilla; C, Maxilliped; D, tip of
maxilliped. Male: E, habitus, lateral; F, same, dorsal; G, first antenna; H,
tip of first antenna. Scale: 20 pm in A, B, D, G; 50 pm in C; 0.2 mm in E, F;
7 pm in H.
346
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
A
B
F
Fig. 9. Eobrachiella elegans (Richiardi, 1880) on Seriola wnata from Woods Hole, Massachusetts; male. A, second antenna; B, tip of second antenna endopod; C, tip
of labrum, outer; D, tip oflabrum, inner; E, tip of mandible; F, first maxilla;
G, second maxilla; H, maxil!iped; I, tip ofmaxilliped. Scale: 20 pm. in A, C, D,
F, I; 7 J.lm in B, E; SOJ.lm in G, H.
In the course of our study on the "Brachiella seriolae Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1960,"
which was taken from a yellow tail (Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck et Schlegel) in
Kojima Bay, we discovered, to our surprise, the above mentioned unusual character
Three Species of Lernaeopodidae
347
state in the male. This unexpected discovery led us to carry out an exhaustive search
of literature for the male lernaeopodids that exhibit the similar state of peculiar
character. We succeeded in finding two species, namely, "Brachiella elegans Richiardi" and "Charopinus quaterinus Wilson." We shall deal with B. elegans here and
leave C. quaterinus to a later section, because the latter is not a member of this new
genus.
The name "Brachiella elegans" was first proposed by Richiardi (1880) for an
Italian lernaeopodid without giving any description or figures and, in 1899, Brian
gave it a brief description and a drawing of female in ventral view. In spite of
Brian's insufficient characterization of B. elegans under a temporary name: "Brachiella (elegans Rich. ?),"Wilson (1915: 708) went ahead and assumed that both Richiardi and Brian were dealing with the same species and proceeded further to conclude
that his specimens (5 females and I male) recovered from Seriola zonata (Mitchill) at
Woods Hold, Massachusetts was attributable "to the same species that Brian figured."
Apparently, the only solution to this enigma is to restudy the lernaeopodids of Lichia
amia (Linnaeus) from Italy and those of Seriola zonata from the northeastern United
States. Since Italian specimens are at the present inaccessible to us, we decided to
reexamine the American specimens of B. elegans that were deposited in the United
States National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D. C. The circumstance is as such we can not but tentatively assume that Richiardi (1880), Brian
(1899), and Wilson (1915) were all dealing with the same species of lernaeopodid.
As shown in Figs. 4-8, the female in Wilson's (1915) material from Woods Hole
is clearly identifiable with Neobrachiella, it resembles particularly the hake parasite,
N. insidiosa (Heller). The male (Figs. 8E-H, 9A-I) is also very much like a Neobrachiella, except for the maxilliped (see Figs. 9H, I), which is a typical Brachiella-form
of appendage. Yet, it differs from the male of Brachiella in lacking the genital plates
and genital processes. In short, the male of Eohrachiella exhibits a state of character
intermediate between the Brachiella and Neobrachiella and can not be assigned to
either genus.
The new genus is established with emphasis on the functional morphology of the
male maxilliped. In almost all of the known lernaeopodids, the dwarf male attaches
to its reproductive companion with both second maxillae and maxillipeds. It can be
seen "pinching" on the female cuticle almost anywhere on her body. On the contrary, the male of Eobrachiella is always found near the base of the female caudal ramus
and wrapping arround it with the elongated maxillipeds (see Fig. 10F). This "embracing" type of attachment is much more effective than "pinching" and bears higher
selective value for survival as a companion of the parasite living on the fast swimming
pelagic fish host.
Eobrachiella elegans f. seriolae (Yamaguti and Yamasu, 1960)
(Figs. 10-12)
Material examined;
One ovigerous female carrying a dwarf male found at the base of pectoral
348
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
fin of a Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck and Schlegel caught on 13 May, 1980.
Female: Body (Fig. lOA) rather long. Cephalothorax (Figs. lOB, C) about
1/3 of body length and in line with body axis. Head (Fig. IOD) covered with a
dorsal shield. Trunk (Fig. lOA) bearing three pairs of lateral indentations and two
pairs of posterior processes, of which the ventral pair is distinctly longer (see Figs.
IOE, F). Genital process (Fig. IOE) small. Measurements of specimen (in mm):
cephalothorax length 2.75; width 1.4; trunk length 4.83; width 2.58; genital
process length 0.49; dorsal process length 1.8; ventral process length 5.2; egg sac
length 8.8; width 0.79.
·
First antenna 4-segmented; first segment unarmed, second and third segments
each armed with one seta, and terminal segment (Fig. IIA) with 5 tubercles, l
digitiform seta and 3 flagelliform setae. Second antenna (Fig. llB) with a large,
fleshy endopod and a small, 2-segmented endopod (Fig. ll C), which is tipped with 2
spiniform setae; no ornamentation on either ramus. Tip of labrum (Fig. liD) with
a short central rostrum concealed in a tuft of setules. Dental formula of mandible
(Fig. liE) typical of Neobrachiella with PI, Sl, Pl, Sl, PI, Sl, and B5. First maxilla
(Fig. llF) with stubby exopod tipped with 2 setae and large endopod armed with 2
large papillae and l short seta; dorsal surface of endopod protruded and spinulose.
Second maxillae (see Fig. lOC) rather long, separated, and bearing a pair of nodules
at the fused tip (see Fig. llG). Maxilliped (Fig. llH) 2-segmented; corpus unarmed;
subchela bearing a small basal seta and a stubby distal barb accompanied by a patch
of denticles at its base (Fig .Ill); terminal claw bearing 2 secondary teeth.
Male: Body (Figs. l2A, B) measuring l 020 X 460 J.Lm, with a pair of prominent
caudal rami. First antenna (Fig. l2C) shaped differently from female but armed
with similar kind and number of setae and tubercles (see also Fig. 12D). Second
antenna (Fig. 12E) biramus; exopod bearing 2 papillae; endopod 2-segmented, with
proximal segment bearing a patch of spinules and distal segment a recurved hook,
2 spines, and a patch of spinules. Mandible with extremely unusual dentition as
shown in Fig. l2F. First maxilla (Fig. l2G) generally as in female. Second maxilla (Fig. I2H) 2-segmented and subchelate, with rather strongly curved, slender
terminal claw. Maxilliped (Fig. 121) long and slender; corpus bearing on its medial
surface 3 denticulated nodules with the middle one carrying a spine; subchela curbed, bearing a small basal seta, a subterminal denticulate nodule carrying a spine, and
a stubby terminal claw (see Fig. 12]).
Remarks. This species of lernaeopodid was reported by Yamaguti and Yamasu
m 1960 as "Brachiella seriolae n. sp." It has never been reported again since the
original work. Our specimen was recovered from the same species of host in the
vicinity of the type locality.
A careful comparison between the specimens of Kojima Bay and those of Woods
Hole revealed that the differences between them are minute but consistent. Therefore, we propose to treat the Japanese form as a subspecies of Eobrachiella elegans.
Three species
of Lemaeopodidae
E
Fig. 10. Eobrachiella elegans f. seriolae (Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1960), female. A, habitus,
dorsal. B, cephalothorax, dorsal; C, same, lateral; D, anterior part of cephalothorax, dorsal, E, posterior end of trunk, dorsal; F, same, ventral. Scale: 2 mm
in A; 1 mm in B, C, E, F; 0.5 mm in D.
349
350
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
E
Fig. 11. Eobrachiella elegans f. seriolae (Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1960), female. A, tip of
first antenna; B, second antenna; C, second antenna endopod; D, tip of
labrum; E, tip of mandible; F, first maxilla; G, tip of second maxilla; H,
maxilliped; I, tip ofmaxilliped. Scale: 10 Jlffi in A; 0.1 mm in B, H; 20 Jlill inC,
D, E, F, I; 0.2 mm in G.
Three Species qf Lernaeopodidae
351
c
G
i;
l·i
H
;]
Fig. 12. Eobrachiella elegans f. seriolae (Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1960), male. A, habitus,
dorsal; B, same, lateral; C, first antenna; D, tip of first antenna; E, second
antenna; F, tip of mandible; G, first maxilla; H, second maxilla; I, maxilliped; J, tip of maxilliped. Scale: 0.2 rom in A, B; 20 Jml in C, E, G, J; I 0 J.lm
in D; 7 Jml in F; 50 J.lm in H, I.
352
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
The differences detected are in the fine structures of both male and female second
antennae and the terminal armature in the male first antennae.
Discussion of Charopinopsis Yamaguti, 1963
Prior to 1964, the genus Charopinus Kr¢yer, 1863 was a "catch-all taxon" containing 14 species of morphologically very heterogeneous lernaeopodids. Kabata
(1964) reviewed the genus and reassign these 14 species to five genera, with the genus
Charopinopsis Yamaguti receiving two species of this mixed assemblage; they were:
Charopinus quaterinus Wilson, 1935 and Charopinus albidus Rangnekar, 1956. Since
these two species are only remotely related to the redefined genus Charopinus, their
new attribute-the genus Charopinopsis-was not treated by Kabata (1979) as a
member on the Charopinus-branch of the lernaeopodid phylogeny. Instead, he
considered it as representing a stage intermediate between the Lernaeopoda-branch
and Brachiella-branch. Unfortunately, the generic name given by Yamaguti (1963)
preceded Kabata's (1964) work, and so we can not but continue the use of this
misnomer in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
According to Kabata's (1979) recent work, Charopinopsis is a monotypic genus
containing only Charopinopsis quaterina (Wilson); as to the other species, Charopinopsis albida (Rangnekar), it was reassigned to a newly created genus Neobrachiella.
The latter taxon, as it stands now, is probably the largest genus of the Lernaeopodidae that contains more than 50 nominal species. However, many of them have
never been adequately characterized.
The female of Charopinopsis quaterina was excellently redescribed by Kabata
(1964), based on Wilson's type specimens. Although Wilson's (1935) original
description lacks details, nonetheless, he clearly indicated in his Figure 48 and Figure 49 that the male had a pair of long and slender Brachiella-type of maxillipeds.
According to our present state of knowledge, it can be briefly characterized that
C. quaterina is a lernaeopodid with Brachiella-type of male and Neobrachiella-type of
female which possesses: l) a cylindrical but only moderately elongated cephalothorax, 2) a long trunk with the posterolateral corners protruded into prominent
ventral processes, 3) a pair of posterior processes (modified caudal rami) ventral to
the egg sacs, 4) a pair of mandibles with two secondary teeth, and 5) a pair of first
maxillae with two terminal papillae and a small seta, and a ventral exopod tipped
with two small setae. Eobrachiella elegans seems to fit well into these character states
except for the mandible that bears three secondary teeth.
Since Wilson ( 1935) had only one male in his collection and did for it a cursory
treatment, some unusual features presented in this male had escaped Kabata's (1964)
attention when he reconsidered the taxonomic status of "Charopinus quaterinus Wilson,
1935." However, blessing in disguise, when one of us (JSH) was making a general
collection of parasitic copepods on board R/V Oregon during the Cruise 105, he collected 21 females of C. quaterina from the gill filaments of two dolphins, Coryphaena
hippurus Linnaeus, that were caught on November 27, 1965 at 24° 18'N 82° 47'W
Three Species
D
of Lemaeopodidae
353
E
Fig. 13. Charopinopsis quaterina (Wilson, 1935) on Coryphaena hippurus from Key West,
Florida; female. A, habitus, dorsal; B, same, lateral; C, same, ventral; D,
cephalothorax, dorsal; E, same, lateral. Scale: 1 mm in A, B, C; 0.5 mm in D,
E.
354
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
E
~I
~---
fl
~
Fig. 14. Charopinopsis quaterina (Wilson, 1935) on Coryphaena hippums from Key West,
Florida; female. A, posterior end of tnmk, dorsal; B, same, ventral; C, first
antenna; D, tip of first antenna; E, second antenna; F, second antenna endopod; G, tip of labrum; H, mandible. Scale: 0.5 mm in A, B; 20 pm in C,
D, F, G, H; 50 Jlffi in E.
Three Species of Lernaeopodidae
Fig. 15. Charopinopsis quaterina (Wilson, 1935) on Coryphaena hippurus from Key West,
Florida. Female: A, first maxilla; B, tip of second maxillae with bulla; C,
maxilliped; D, tip ofmaxilliped. Male: E, habitus, lateral; F, same, dorsal; G,
same, ventral. Scale: 20Jliil in A, D; 0.1 mm in B, E, F, G; 50Jliil in C.
355
356
J.-S. Ho & T.T. Do
D
...
:
•f~~~
"i
L
i('~
• f
___
___ ....
--:-...,
..._.
r··
._.---/
..,..~':'
\
l;
.i
r;I!
I
Fig. 16. Charopirwpsis quaterina (Wilson, 1935) on Coryphaena hippurus from Key West,
Florida; male. A, posterior end of trunk, showing caudal rami; B, caudal ramus;
C, first antenna; D, tip of first antenna; E, second antenna; F, tip of second
antenna endopod; G, tip of labrum; H, tip of mandible; I, first maxilla; J,
second maxilla; K, maxilliped; L, tip of maxilliped. Scale: 50 p.m in A,], K;
20 p.m in B, C, E, G, I. L; 10 p.m in D; 7 p.m in F, H.
Three Species of Lernaeopodidae
357
(off Key West, Florida). Ten males were found with each attaching to a female by
clasping with its maxillipeds around one of the two modified caudal rami, reminiscent
of a situation seen in Eobrachiella elegans (cf. Figs. lOF and 14B). ~n order to find
out the true morphological differences between Charopinopsis and Eobrachiella we
decided to study in detail the specimens collected off Key West.
As depicted in Figs. 13-15, the female Charopinopsis quaterina has a general appearance of Eobrachiella elegans, but differs from it chiefly in the absence of an anal
tubercle (cf. Figs. 7C and 14A) and the number of secondary teeth in the mandible
(cf. Figs. 8A and l4H). However, the male C. quaterina (Figs. 15E-G, 16A-L) has
an entirely different type of body, it is not a Brachiella-type (type A in Kabata, 1979:
333), but a Clavella-type (type Bin Kabata, 1979: 333). While the appendages of
male C. quaterina (Figs. l6A-L) is generally like those in E. elegans, its caudal ramus
(Figs. 15G, 16A, B) is rather unique in the lernaeopodids. Thus, Charopinopsis is
an unusual lernaeopodid in possessing a Brachiella-type of female and Clavella-type
of male.
Based on our present knowledge, Charopinopsis quaterina is a gill parasite of epipelagic fish, particularly the dolphin, Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus. It is found not
only on the dolphins occurring in the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida (Wilson, 1935; Pearse, 1952; Causey, 1953; Burnett-Herkes, 1974) but also on those
populations living in the central Pacific (Lewis, 1967) and the tropical Indian Ocean
(Pillai, 1962; Kazachenko, 1975). The parasite is notably lacking on the dolphins
from the eastern Pacific, eastern Atlantic, and Mediterranean; and it is still unknow
from the dolphin in the Japanese waters. Wilson's (1935) report of finding this
parasite "on the gills of a slender gurnard, Peristedion gracilis" from the Dry Tortugas
(in the Gulf of Mexico) is a rather doubtful record, because the host is not an epipelagic fish.
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