CYCLOPOID COPEPODS OF THE FAMILY CHONDRACANTHIDAE PARASITIC ON NEW ZEALAND MARINE FISHES

Abstract

Chondracanthidae is a family of highly transformed cyclopoid copepods that are found exclusively on marine demersal fish. Although a complete life history of this family of copepods is still unknown, it seems, judging from the available information of their larval development, that the parasites do not require an intermediate host. Both adult and larva are found in the oral-branchial cavity of the fish, attaching to the host tissue by their powerful, hook-like second antenna. Although a few species are known to live in the nasal cavity, they have not been found on the body surface or fins of the fish. The male is characteristically dwarf and attaches to the genital area of the female throughout its life. In many species, the transformed female has a pair of small processes on the posteroventral surface of the trunk just in front of the genital segment. The pigmy male holds on to one of these two processes by its transformed hook-like second antennae.