Cirracanthus longus sp. nov. (Taeniacanthidae), a copepod parasitic on seabats (Ogcocephalidae: Halieutaea) from Taiwan, with a key to 23 taeniacanthid species known from Taiwan

Abstract

A new species of copepod, Cirracanthus longus sp. nov. (Poecilostomatoida: Taeniacanthidae), is described from the gills of the circular seabat, Halieutaea fitzsimonsi (Gilchrist and Thompson) and batfish, H. stellata (Vahl), collected off the northeastern and southwestern coasts of Taiwan. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) terminal segment of antenna armed with 2 curved claws and 4 setae; (2) 3rd exopodal segment of leg 2 with armature of III, I, 4; (3) 3rd exopodal segment of legs 3 and 4 with armature of II, I, 5; (4) distal segment of leg 5 armed with 4 setae; and (5) moderately long caudal ramus with a length/width ratio of 2.11. With the discovery of C. longus sp. nov., Parataeniacanthus inimici Yamaguti and Yamasu, 1959, also known as Taeniacanthus inimici (Yamaguti and Yamasu, 1959), is reconsidered to be a species of Cirracanthus Dojiri and Cressey, 1987. A key is provided for the 23 species (in 7 genera) of the Taeniacanthidae so far reported from Taiwan.