The epicaridium larvae of Paragigantione species (Isopoda: Epicaridea: Bopyridae) have external yolk sacs: transfer of the genus to Pleurocryptellinae, description of two new species in the genus and a new species of hyperparasite (Isopoda: Epicaridea: Cabiropidae)

Syst Parasitol. 2024 Oct 25;101(6):70. doi: 10.1007/s11230-024-10190-z.

Abstract

The epicaridean isopods previously known to have epicaridium larvae with posterior yolk sacs were species of Pleurocryptella Bonnier, 1900 and a new subfamily, Pleurocryptellinae, was recently erected for this genus. Epicaridium larvae bearing posterior yolk sacs are newly reported from two species of the genus Paragigantione Barnard, 1920 which is transferred from Pseudioninae to Pleurocryptelline on the basis of this and other shared characters of adult males and females with species of Pleurocryptella. Two new species of Paragigantione are described, one from the northeast Atlantic based on type material that was misidentified as belonging to the type species of the genus, P. papillosa Barnard, 1920 and a second from off New Zealand. One specimen of the New Zealand species had a cryptoniscus larva of a new species of hyperparasite of the genus Bourdonia Rybakov, 1990 in the marsupium while another had a species of Duplorbis (Rhizocephala); the former is described based on this material as well as a specimen from a specimen of Pseudione cf. fibriata Richardson, 1910 from New Zealand. Keys to species of Paragigantione for both males and females are provided.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Isopoda* / anatomy & histology
  • Isopoda* / classification
  • Larva* / anatomy & histology
  • Larva* / classification
  • Male
  • New Zealand
  • Species Specificity*
  • Yolk Sac / parasitology