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Currently Copepoda consists of 14 600 species of which 2 275 species are members of the Siphonostomatoida. Siphonostomatoida consists of 40 families, with 17 families symbiotic on fish. Sphyriidae has 44 accepted species in eight reported genera, of which four genera infect teleosts and the remaining four infect elasmobranchs. Adult females undergo transformation through loss of locomotory appendages to suit their mesoparasitic lifestyle and develop outgrowths on the cephalothorax or neck for attachment to the host. To date, only 176 marine siphonostomatoid species have been reported from South African waters, with only nine sphyriid species. Sphyriids previously collected from marine bony fish off the east, south and west coasts of southern Africa and preserved in 70% ethanol were studied. Specimens were examined with stereo- and compound microscopes and identified using published literature. Selected specimens were stained in lactic acid with added lignin pink, appendages were dissected and illustrated with the aid of a drawing tube. Selected specimens were also studied through scanning electron microscopy. The examined specimens were identified as species of Sphyrion and Lophoura. Re descriptions were done for all valid Sphyrion species females (S. laevigatum, S. lumpi and S. quadricornis) and new descriptions for the males of S. laevigatum and S. quadricornis. Post-metamorphosis females of Sphyrion species can be differentiated by the shape of cephalothorax, length of the neck in relation to the length of the trunk and the length of posterior processes in relation to the trunk length, while males are mostly very similar. New information is provided regarding the appendages of S. laevigatum and S. quadricornis. The appendages of the three species bear close resemblance to one another. Additionally, an identification key for the post metamorphosis females of Sphyrion species is provided. Re-descriptions were done for five female Lophoura species (L. caparti, L. co, National Research Foundation (NRF)

Based on specimens from the gill cavities of one Platichthys stellatus individual collected in the Sea of Japan, we investigated the taxonomic status of the enigmatic caligid genus Pseudolepeophtheirus and its type species, Pseudolepeophtheirus longicauda. In a maximum likelihood (ML) tree based on 18S rRNA gene sequences, the sequence from our sample was nested in a well-supported Lepeophtheirus clade, along with the type species, confirming that Pseudolepeophtheirus should be considered a junior synonym of Lepeophtheirus; our morphological data support this synonymy. Although a previous study had synonymized Pseudolepeophtheirus longicauda with Lepeophtheirus parvicruris, we found that the former differs morphologically from the latter in having a short leg-4 exopod, with the articulation between the first and second segments not evident (the shape of the posterior striated membrane on the leg-2 intercoxal sclerite also differs between two species), and detected slight differences in 18S rRNA sequences between two taxa. We thus concluded that this synonymy is invalid, and reinstate Lepeophtheirus longicauda as a valid species. A ML analysis of COI sequences from Pl. stellatus (the host fish for both L. longicauda and L. parvicruris) showed the host species to comprise distinct northwestern- and northeastern-Pacific clades. Lepeophtheirus longicauda is distributed in the northwestern Pacific and L. parvicruris in the northeastern Pacific, indicating co-divergence of the two copepod species with the host lineages.

Based on specimens from the gill cavities of one Platichthys stellatus individual collected in the Sea of Japan, we investigated the taxonomic status of the enigmatic caligid genus Pseudolepeophtheirus and its type species, Pseudolepeophtheirus longicauda. In a maximum likelihood (ML) tree based on 18S rRNA gene sequences, the sequence from our sample was nested in a well-supported Lepeophtheirus clade, along with the type species, confirming that Pseudolepeophtheirus should be considered a junior synonym of Lepeophtheirus; our morphological data support this synonymy. Although a previous study had synonymized Pseudolepeophtheirus longicauda with Lepeophtheirus parvicruris, we found that the former differs morphologically from the latter in having a short leg-4 exopod, with the articulation between the first and second segments not evident (the shape of the posterior striated membrane on the leg-2 intercoxal sclerite also differs between two species), and detected slight differences in 18S rRNA sequences between two taxa. We thus concluded that this synonymy is invalid, and reinstate Lepeophtheirus longicauda as a valid species. A ML analysis of COI sequences from Pl. stellatus (the host fish for both L. longicauda and L. parvicruris) showed the host species to comprise distinct northwestern- and northeastern-Pacific clades. Lepeophtheirus longicauda is distributed in the northwestern Pacific and L. parvicruris in the northeastern Pacific, indicating co-divergence of the two copepod species with the host lineages.

Se describe una nueva especie de copépodo perteneciente al género Orecturus, encontrado en asociación con el octocoral Eunicea mammosa en la provincia de La Habana. Dentro del género, esta especie es más similar a O. grandisetiger y O. bahiensis, debido a la presencia de tres setas en el exopodito de la antena, dos distales y una lateral. Sin embargo, se diferencia de ambas especies en la no presencia de lóbulos triangulares en el segmento 5, anténula con 17 artejos y las setas del artejo 3 de la anténula son cortas y casi de la misma longitud., This paper describes a new copepod species belonging to the genus Orecturus found in association with the octocoral Eunicea mammosa in La Habana province. This species shares several similarities with O. grandisetiger and O. bahiensis such as the presence of three setae in the exopodite of the antenna, two distal and one lateral. Nevertheless, differences include lack of triangular lobes in the 5th segment, antennule with 17 segments, and short 3-segment setae of almost the same length.

This paper describes a new copepod species belonging to the genus Orecturus found in association with the octocoral Eunicea mammosa in La Habana province. This species shares several similarities with O. grandisetiger and O. bahiensis such as the presence of three setae in the exopodite of the antenna, two distal and one lateral. Nevertheless, differences include lack of triangular lobes in the 5th segment, antennule with 17 segments, and short 3-segment setae of almost the same length., Se describe una nueva especie de copépodo perteneciente al género Orecturus, encontrado en asociación con el octocoral Eunicea mammosa en la provincia de La Habana. Dentro del género, esta especie es más similar a O. grandisetiger y O. bahiensis, debido a la presencia de tres setas en el exopodito de la antena, dos distales y una lateral. Sin embargo, se diferencia de ambas especies en la no presencia de lóbulos triangulares en el segmento 5, anténula con 17 artejos y las setas del artejo 3 de la anténula son cortas y casi de la misma longitud.

Two species of copepods belonging to the genus Asterocheres were found in recent collections in the North of Matanzas province. The one associated to the sponge of the genus Callyspongia Duchassaing y Michelotti, 1864 is described as a new species of siphonostomatoid copepod to science. The differences among the new specie and the more similar ones are also presented. A. crinoidicola, associated to a crinoid of the genus Davidaster Hoggett y Rowe, 1986 is recorded for the first time for the Cuban Archipelago., Dos especies de copépodos pertenecientes al género Asterocheres fueron halladas en recolectas recientes al norte de la provincia de Matanzas. Se describe la especie asociada a la esponja del género Callyspongia Duchassaing y Michelotti, 1864, como una nueva especie de copépodo sifonostomatoideo para la ciencia. Se discuten las diferencias más importantes entre esta especie y sus similares. Se informa, por primera vez, la presencia de A. crinoidicola asociada a un crinoideo del género Davidaster Hoggett y Rowe, 1986, en aguas del archipiélago cubano.

Due to its extremely brief description, Asterocheres echinicola (Norman, 1868) has been confused with some Asterocheres species such as Asterocheres suberitis Giesbrecht, 1897, Asterocheres parvus Giesbrecht, 1897 and Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872). Furthermore, this species has been considered conspecific with Cyclopicera lata (Brady, 1872) and Asterocheres kervillei Canu, 1898. The objective of this paper is to study the syntypes of Asterocheres echinicola deposited in the Museum of Natural History of London together with abundant material from this and other institutions. Re-examination of these syntypes revealed that Asterocheres echinicola was conspecific with the currently known Asterocheres species, A. violaceus. Therefore, this latter species should be considered as a junior synonym of the former. The specimens described by Brady as Cyclopicera lata represent distinctively Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and are identical to Sars’s Ascomyzom parvum and to Giesbrecht’s Asterocheres echinicola. We propose to rename Cyclopicera lata as Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872), and raise Sars’ Ascomyzon latus, a species which is different from Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and from Asterocheres latus (=Cyclopicera lata), as a new species. In this paper, we not only redescribe both species A. echinicola and A. latus, but also compare them with their previous descriptions, with the new materialavailable and with their congeners. The redescription of Asterocheres latus revealed new specific differences between this species and Asterocheres kervillei, a species considered as synonymous of Asterocheres latus for almost 40 years. We strongly recommend that these differences are suffcient to consider these two species different. Finally, we analyzed the implications of all these taxonomical changes with respect to the diversity of the hosts utilized by these copepods and their geographical distribution.

Due to its extremely brief description, Asterocheres echinicola (Norman, 1868) has been confused with some Asterocheres species such as Asterocheres suberitis Giesbrecht, 1897, Asterocheres parvus Giesbrecht, 1897 and Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872). Furthermore, this species has been considered conspecific with Cyclopicera lata (Brady, 1872) and Asterocheres kervillei Canu, 1898. The objective of this paper is to study the syntypes of Asterocheres echinicola deposited in the Museum of Natural History of London together with abundant material from this and other institutions. Re-examination of these syntypes revealed that Asterocheres echinicola was conspecific with the currently known Asterocheres species, A. violaceus. Therefore, this latter species should be considered as a junior synonym of the former. The specimens described by Brady as Cyclopicera lata represent distinctively Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and are identical to Sars’s Ascomyzom parvum and to Giesbrecht’s Asterocheres echinicola. We propose to rename Cyclopicera lata as Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872), and raise Sars’ Ascomyzon latus, a species which is different from Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and from Asterocheres latus (=Cyclopicera lata), as a new species. In this paper, we not only redescribe both species A. echinicola and A. latus, but also compare them with their previous descriptions, with the new materialavailable and with their congeners. The redescription of Asterocheres latus revealed new specific differences between this species and Asterocheres kervillei, a species considered as synonymous of Asterocheres latus for almost 40 years. We strongly recommend that these differences are suffcient to consider these two species different. Finally, we analyzed the implications of all these taxonomical changes with respect to the diversity of the hosts utilized by these copepods and their geographical distribution.

Due to its extremely brief description, Asterocheres echinicola (Norman, 1868) has been confused with some Asterocheres species such as Asterocheres suberitis Giesbrecht, 1897, Asterocheres parvus Giesbrecht, 1897 and Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872). Furthermore, this species has been considered conspecific with Cyclopicera lata (Brady, 1872) and Asterocheres kervillei Canu, 1898. The objective of this paper is to study the syntypes of Asterocheres echinicola deposited in the Museum of Natural History of London together with abundant material from this and other institutions. Re-examination of these syntypes revealed that Asterocheres echinicola was conspecific with the currently known Asterocheres species, A. violaceus. Therefore, this latter species should be considered as a junior synonym of the former. The specimens described by Brady as Cyclopicera lata represent distinctively Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and are identical to Sars’s Ascomyzom parvum and to Giesbrecht’s Asterocheres echinicola. We propose to rename Cyclopicera lata as Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872), and raise Sars’ Ascomyzon latus, a species which is different from Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and from Asterocheres latus (=Cyclopicera lata), as a new species. In this paper, we not only redescribe both species A. echinicola and A. latus, but also compare them with their previous descriptions, with the new materialavailable and with their congeners. The redescription of Asterocheres latus revealed new specific differences between this species and Asterocheres kervillei, a species considered as synonymous of Asterocheres latus for almost 40 years. We strongly recommend that these differences are suffcient to consider these two species different. Finally, we analyzed the implications of all these taxonomical changes with respect to the diversity of the hosts utilized by these copepods and their geographical distribution.

Due to its extremely brief description, Asterocheres echinicola (Norman, 1868) has been confused with some Asterocheres species such as Asterocheres suberitis Giesbrecht, 1897, Asterocheres parvus Giesbrecht, 1897 and Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872). Furthermore, this species has been considered conspecific with Cyclopicera lata (Brady, 1872) and Asterocheres kervillei Canu, 1898. The objective of this paper is to study the syntypes of Asterocheres echinicola deposited in the Museum of Natural History of London together with abundant material from this and other institutions. Re-examination of these syntypes revealed that Asterocheres echinicola was conspecific with the currently known Asterocheres species, A. violaceus. Therefore, this latter species should be considered as a junior synonym of the former. The specimens described by Brady as Cyclopicera lata represent distinctively Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and are identical to Sars’s Ascomyzom parvum and to Giesbrecht’s Asterocheres echinicola. We propose to rename Cyclopicera lata as Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872), and raise Sars’ Ascomyzon latus, a species which is different from Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and from Asterocheres latus (=Cyclopicera lata), as a new species. In this paper, we not only redescribe both species A. echinicola and A. latus, but also compare them with their previous descriptions, with the new materialavailable and with their congeners. The redescription of Asterocheres latus revealed new specific differences between this species and Asterocheres kervillei, a species considered as synonymous of Asterocheres latus for almost 40 years. We strongly recommend that these differences are suffcient to consider these two species different. Finally, we analyzed the implications of all these taxonomical changes with respect to the diversity of the hosts utilized by these copepods and their geographical distribution.

Due to its extremely brief description, Asterocheres echinicola (Norman, 1868) has been confused with some Asterocheres species such as Asterocheres suberitis Giesbrecht, 1897, Asterocheres parvus Giesbrecht, 1897 and Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872). Furthermore, this species has been considered conspecific with Cyclopicera lata (Brady, 1872) and Asterocheres kervillei Canu, 1898. The objective of this paper is to study the syntypes of Asterocheres echinicola deposited in the Museum of Natural History of London together with abundant material from this and other institutions. Re-examination of these syntypes revealed that Asterocheres echinicola was conspecific with the currently known Asterocheres species, A. violaceus. Therefore, this latter species should be considered as a junior synonym of the former. The specimens described by Brady as Cyclopicera lata represent distinctively Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and are identical to Sars’s Ascomyzom parvum and to Giesbrecht’s Asterocheres echinicola. We propose to rename Cyclopicera lata as Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872), and raise Sars’ Ascomyzon latus, a species which is different from Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and from Asterocheres latus (=Cyclopicera lata), as a new species. In this paper, we not only redescribe both species A. echinicola and A. latus, but also compare them with their previous descriptions, with the new materialavailable and with their congeners. The redescription of Asterocheres latus revealed new specific differences between this species and Asterocheres kervillei, a species considered as synonymous of Asterocheres latus for almost 40 years. We strongly recommend that these differences are suffcient to consider these two species different. Finally, we analyzed the implications of all these taxonomical changes with respect to the diversity of the hosts utilized by these copepods and their geographical distribution.

Due to its extremely brief description, Asterocheres echinicola (Norman, 1868) has been confused with some Asterocheres species such as Asterocheres suberitis Giesbrecht, 1897, Asterocheres parvus Giesbrecht, 1897 and Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872). Furthermore, this species has been considered conspecific with Cyclopicera lata (Brady, 1872) and Asterocheres kervillei Canu, 1898. The objective of this paper is to study the syntypes of Asterocheres echinicola deposited in the Museum of Natural History of London together with abundant material from this and other institutions. Re-examination of these syntypes revealed that Asterocheres echinicola was conspecific with the currently known Asterocheres species, A. violaceus. Therefore, this latter species should be considered as a junior synonym of the former. The specimens described by Brady as Cyclopicera lata represent distinctively Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and are identical to Sars’s Ascomyzom parvum and to Giesbrecht’s Asterocheres echinicola. We propose to rename Cyclopicera lata as Asterocheres latus (Brady, 1872), and raise Sars’ Ascomyzon latus, a species which is different from Asterocheres echinicola (=Asterocheres violaceus) and from Asterocheres latus (=Cyclopicera lata), as a new species. In this paper, we not only redescribe both species A. echinicola and A. latus, but also compare them with their previous descriptions, with the new materialavailable and with their congeners. The redescription of Asterocheres latus revealed new specific differences between this species and Asterocheres kervillei, a species considered as synonymous of Asterocheres latus for almost 40 years. We strongly recommend that these differences are suffcient to consider these two species different. Finally, we analyzed the implications of all these taxonomical changes with respect to the diversity of the hosts utilized by these copepods and their geographical distribution.

Three new siphonostomatoid copepods are associated with Ophiuroidea in the tropical western Atlantic. Collocheres vervoorti spec. nov., from Ophiothrix angulata in Jamaica, has an elongate, gently tapered genital double-somite in the female and the second segment of leg 5 has a distal outer notch. Collocheres lunulifer spec. nov., an associate of Ophiothrix angulata and Ophiothrix suensonii in Barbados, has sclerotized lunules on the basis and first segment of the endopod of leg 1. Ophiurocheres bellulus gen. nov., spec, nov., living on Ophiomyxa flaccida in Puerto Rico, has the third segment of the exopod of leg 1 armed with 11,2,2 and the second segment of leg 5 bears 2 setae in the female and 3 setae in the male.

Three new siphonostomatoid copepods are associated with Ophiuroidea in the tropical western Atlantic. Collocheres vervoorti spec. nov., from Ophiothrix angulata in Jamaica, has an elongate, gently tapered genital double-somite in the female and the second segment of leg 5 has a distal outer notch. Collocheres lunulifer spec. nov., an associate of Ophiothrix angulata and Ophiothrix suensonii in Barbados, has sclerotized lunules on the basis and first segment of the endopod of leg 1. Ophiurocheres bellulus gen. nov., spec, nov., living on Ophiomyxa flaccida in Puerto Rico, has the third segment of the exopod of leg 1 armed with 11,2,2 and the second segment of leg 5 bears 2 setae in the female and 3 setae in the male.

In this work, 16 species of commensal or parasitic copepods associated with marine invertebrates from the Strait of Gibraltar are recorded. Eleven species are included into the order Cyclopoida, three into Poecilostomatoida, one into Siphonostomatoida, and another into a family incertae sedis. They have been found mainly associated with Ascidians, but also in Pelecypods, Polychaetes, Opisthobranch molluscs, Ophiuroids and Anthozoans. Among these, 13 are new records for the Iberian peninsula fauna, and three are also new for the African coasts. Moreover five species, Haplostomella malacocera Chatton & Harant, 1924; Haplostomella tuberculata Chatton & Harant, 1924; Periproctia falsiarcuata Stock, 1967; Anthessius arcuatus López-González, Conradi, Naranjo & García-Gómez, 1992 and Botryllophilus conicus Conradi, López-González & García-Gómez, 1994, are recorded for the first time since their original descriptions. Furthermore, new hosts and bathymetrical data of most of the species are provided.

In this work, 16 species of commensal or parasitic copepods associated with marine invertebrates from the Strait of Gibraltar are recorded. Eleven species are included into the order Cyclopoida, three into Poecilostomatoida, one into Siphonostomatoida, and another into a family incertae sedis. They have been found mainly associated with Ascidians, but also in Pelecypods, Polychaetes, Opisthobranch molluscs, Ophiuroids and Anthozoans. Among these, 13 are new records for the Iberian peninsula fauna, and three are also new for the African coasts. Moreover five species, Haplostomella malacocera Chatton & Harant, 1924; Haplostomella tuberculata Chatton & Harant, 1924; Periproctia falsiarcuata Stock, 1967; Anthessius arcuatus López-González, Conradi, Naranjo & García-Gómez, 1992 and Botryllophilus conicus Conradi, López-González & García-Gómez, 1994, are recorded for the first time since their original descriptions. Furthermore, new hosts and bathymetrical data of most of the species are provided.

In this work, 16 species of commensal or parasitic copepods associated with marine invertebrates from the Strait of Gibraltar are recorded. Eleven species are included into the order Cyclopoida, three into Poecilostomatoida, one into Siphonostomatoida, and another into a family incertae sedis. They have been found mainly associated with Ascidians, but also in Pelecypods, Polychaetes, Opisthobranch molluscs, Ophiuroids and Anthozoans. Among these, 13 are new records for the Iberian peninsula fauna, and three are also new for the African coasts. Moreover five species, Haplostomella malacocera Chatton & Harant, 1924; Haplostomella tuberculata Chatton & Harant, 1924; Periproctia falsiarcuata Stock, 1967; Anthessius arcuatus López-González, Conradi, Naranjo & García-Gómez, 1992 and Botryllophilus conicus Conradi, López-González & García-Gómez, 1994, are recorded for the first time since their original descriptions. Furthermore, new hosts and bathymetrical data of most of the species are provided.

In this work, 16 species of commensal or parasitic copepods associated with marine invertebrates from the Strait of Gibraltar are recorded. Eleven species are included into the order Cyclopoida, three into Poecilostomatoida, one into Siphonostomatoida, and another into a family incertae sedis. They have been found mainly associated with Ascidians, but also in Pelecypods, Polychaetes, Opisthobranch molluscs, Ophiuroids and Anthozoans. Among these, 13 are new records for the Iberian peninsula fauna, and three are also new for the African coasts. Moreover five species, Haplostomella malacocera Chatton & Harant, 1924; Haplostomella tuberculata Chatton & Harant, 1924; Periproctia falsiarcuata Stock, 1967; Anthessius arcuatus López-González, Conradi, Naranjo & García-Gómez, 1992 and Botryllophilus conicus Conradi, López-González & García-Gómez, 1994, are recorded for the first time since their original descriptions. Furthermore, new hosts and bathymetrical data of most of the species are provided.

In this work, 16 species of commensal or parasitic copepods associated with marine invertebrates from the Strait of Gibraltar are recorded. Eleven species are included into the order Cyclopoida, three into Poecilostomatoida, one into Siphonostomatoida, and another into a family incertae sedis. They have been found mainly associated with Ascidians, but also in Pelecypods, Polychaetes, Opisthobranch molluscs, Ophiuroids and Anthozoans. Among these, 13 are new records for the Iberian peninsula fauna, and three are also new for the African coasts. Moreover five species, Haplostomella malacocera Chatton & Harant, 1924; Haplostomella tuberculata Chatton & Harant, 1924; Periproctia falsiarcuata Stock, 1967; Anthessius arcuatus López-González, Conradi, Naranjo & García-Gómez, 1992 and Botryllophilus conicus Conradi, López-González & García-Gómez, 1994, are recorded for the first time since their original descriptions. Furthermore, new hosts and bathymetrical data of most of the species are provided.

Collocherides bleptus n. sp. is associated with a brittle star, Macrophiothrix sp., at Nosy Bé, in northwestern Madagascar. The new copepod differs from its two congeners by its larger size and by having leg 5 in the female with an elongate distal segment bearing only two setae.

Collocherides bleptus n. sp. is associated with a brittle star, Macrophiothrix sp., at Nosy Bé, in northwestern Madagascar. The new copepod differs from its two congeners by its larger size and by having leg 5 in the female with an elongate distal segment bearing only two setae.