Occurrence and taxonomic status of the copepod Unicolax chrysophryenus Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983 (Poecilostomatoida: Bomolochidae) parasitic on the snapper Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Abstract

The copepod Unicolax chrysophryenus was found to inhabit the nasal cavities of the snapper Pagrus auratus in northern New Zealand waters. In 1986, this species had been transferred to the genus Bomolochus based on its similarity to Bomolochus stocki Roubal, 1981 and an interpretation of published figures. Two hundred and sixty‐five specimens of U. chrysophryenus were examined in this study and all possessed a straight 4th seta on the 1st antenna of the female, a feature characteristic of the genus Unicolax and not of Bomolochus. The transfer of Unicolax chrysophryenus to the genus Bomolochus was thus invalid.

Keywords:

• Unicolax chrysophryenus
• Copepoda
• Bomolochidae
• Pagrus auratus