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Caligus mulli n. sp. (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two Mullid fishes from the eastern Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic waters

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Abstract

A new species of caligid copepod, Caligus mulli n. sp., is described based on specimens collected from surmullet Mullus surmuletus Linnaeus from Atlantic waters off the Azores, Portugal, and from red mullet Mullus barbatus barbatus (Linnaeus) caught in the Mediterranean Sea, off the south-eastern coast of Turkey. Sixteen specimens (both sexes) were collected from the gill cavity of M. surmuletus, and one female was collected from the gill cavity of M. barbatus barbatus. The new species is described from both fish hosts. Detailed comparisons are presented with two closely related species, C. ocyurus Cressey, 1991 and C. biaculeatus Brian, 1914: the former can be distinguished by differences in shape of the dorsal cephalothoracic shield and postantennal process, while the latter differs in relative size of the distal spines on leg 4 and in the shape of the sternal furca. The new species can easily be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following additional characteristics: (1) the corpus of the female maxilliped bears a prominent projection proximally and the myxal area is ornamented with a hyaline flange and two sensillae, and (2) the male maxilliped has a conical proximal projection on the corpus and a bifid myxal process opposing the claw.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank local fishermen working in Karataş in Adana, Turkey, for their help during our fish sampling and alsoFlying Sharks team for support and materials provided during the collection and sampling process.

Funding

This research was funded by the Çukurova University academic research projects unit (Project No. FBA-2017-7490).

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Correspondence to Argun Akif Özak.

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The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University of Cukurova in Adana, Turkey and Flying Sharks, in Horta, Portugal or practice at which the studies were conducted. All applicable international, national and/or institutional guidelines for the use and care of animals were followed. Fish samples studied in Turkey and Portugal were maintained according to the guidelines of the animal facility at Faculty of Fisheries of the Cukurova University in Turkey and the Flying sharks in Portugal, respectively.

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Section Editor: Sascha L Hallett

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Rodrigues, A.M.V., Özak, A.A., Silva, L.M.H. et al. Caligus mulli n. sp. (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two Mullid fishes from the eastern Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic waters. Parasitol Res 117, 3843–3850 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6090-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6090-5

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