Free-living stages of the parasitic copepod Lernanthropinus labracoglossae Izawa, 2014 (Siphonostomatoida, Lernanthropidae), reared from eggs

Abstract

Free-living stages, comprising two naupliar stages and the infective copepodid I, of the parasitic copepod Lernanthropinus labracoglossae Izawa, 2014 are described. The larvae were reared from eggs detached from an ovigerous female, recovered from the branchial lamellae of the Japanese actinopterygian fish Labracoglossa argentiventris Peter, 1866 (Kyphosidae). The number of naupliar stages prior to copepodopid I in the Lernanthropidae is the same as in the Caligidae, Pseudohatschekidae and Trebiidae. The copepodid I of the species has a frontal filament, as do representatives of the Caligidae, Pandaridae and Trebiidae. However, this is regarded as a vestigial feature in the last two families. Copepodid I of L. labracoglossae has a 6-segmented antennule, including the naked first segment, as do the first copepodids of eudactylinid copepods.