A new species of Sarcotaces (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Philichthyidae) from Antimora rostrata (Actinopterygii: Gadiformes: Moridae)

Abstract

Parasitic copepods of the genus Sarcotaces occur in galls inside the skeletal musculature of fishes. The gall, hosting a highly metamorphosed drop-shaped female contains also a black fluid capable of staining the fish tissues during filleting. Their marine fish hosts are globally distributed and until recently, eight nominal species have been described from fish hosts representing eight fish families. Females are quite similar in their morphology, therefore the males are used for the species determination. The aim of this study was to provide a detailed morphological characterization of the Sarcotaces specimens found in muscles of the blue antimora, Antimora rostrata (Günther, 1878) originating from deep open waters of the Atlantic. The present paper describes and illustrates Sarcotaces antimorisp. nov. The new species differs from its congeners in the shape of the cephalothorax, relative proportions and structure of the caudal rami, and in the setal formula of the antennulae of the male.