Two new species of siphonostomatoid copepods (crustacea) associated with the stoloniferan coral tubipora musica (Linnaeus) from Madagascar

Abstract

Two new species of siphonostomatoid copepods, Asterocheres tubiporae n. sp. and Entomopsyllus stocki n. sp., associated with the stoloniferan coral Tubipora musica (Linnaeus) are described from Madagascar. Asterocheres tubiporae is characterized by the possession of a large posteroventral process on the caudal ramus and the elongated free segment of leg 5. Entomopsyllus stocki is readily distinguished from its congeners by the possession in the female of 15-segmented antennule and three spines plus two setae on the third exopodal segment of leg 4.