A new species of Entophilus Richardson, 1903 (Isopoda: Bopyridae: Entophilinae) from the Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan

Abstract

Entophilus mirabiledictu, new species, is described as a parasite of Callianassa aqabaensis Dworschak, 2003, in shallow water on the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is compared with the only species previously known from the genus or subfamily Entophilinae Richardson, 1903, Entophilus omnitectus Richardson, 1903, a parasite of several species of the galatheid anomuran genus Munich in water deeper than 300 m at widespread localities around the world. Information on the prevalence of the parasite and its effects on its hosts is provided.