Rhopalione kali sp. nov., first known epicaridean parasite on the Malaysian pinnotherid crab, Serenotheres besutensis (Serène, 1967)

Shane T Ahyong; Christopher B Boyko

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.5

Rhopalione kali sp. nov., first known epicaridean parasite on the Malaysian pinnotherid crab, Serenotheres besutensis (Serène, 1967)

Zootaxa. 2019 Apr 26;4590(2):zootaxa.4590.2.5. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.5.

Authors

Shane T Ahyong¹, Christopher B Boyko

Affiliation

¹ Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia, and School of Biological, Earth Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales NSW 2052, Australia. shane.ahyong@austmus.gov.au.

PMID: 31716094
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4590.2.5

Abstract

Species of the bopyrid isopod genus Rhopalione Pérez, 1920, are parasites of Indo-West Pacific pinnotherid crabs. Unlike other bopyrid parasites of brachyurans that occupy the branchial chambers, however, species of Rhopalione (subfamily Pseudioninae) infest the abdominal cavity. Prior to the present study, four species of Rhopalione were recognized: R. atrinicolae Page, 1985 (New Zealand), R. incerta (Bonnier, 1900) (Madagascar), R. sinensis Markham, 1990 (East Asia), and R. uromyzon Pérez, 1920 (Persian Gulf). A fifth species of Rhopalione, from Perhentian Besar, Malaysia, is described herein, parasitic on the pinnotherid crab Serenotheres besutensis (Serène, 1967). Keys are provided to females and males of the species in the genus.

Keywords: Isopoda, Bopyridae, Pinnotheridae, crab parasite, Malaysia, South China Sea, Crustacea.

MeSH terms

Animals
Asia, Eastern
Brachyura*
Female
Isopoda*
Madagascar
Malaysia
Male
New Zealand
Parasites*