A review of the genus Scyracepon Tattersall, 1905 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae), with description of a new species from China

Abstract

The parasitic isopod genus Scyracepon Tattersall, 1905 is recorded from China for the first time, and a new species, Scyracepon distincta, is described from the host Jonas distinctus (Brachyura: Corystidae). Females of the new species can be distinguished from those of the other six species of Scyracepon by their subequal mid-dorsal projections on pereomeres 6 and 7 (lacking on other pereomeres) and pleonal segments with medial but not lateral fusion. Males of the new species have the first two pleomeres free, pleomeres 3–5 fused, and bear midventral tubercles on all pereomeres and the first pleomere. This is the first record of any species of Corystidae bearing parasitic isopods. Remarks on, and a key to, the seven known species of Scyracepon are provided.

Keywords:

• Bopyridae
• Scyracepon
• Corystidae
• new species
• China

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (No. 31101614). The authors would like to thank Prof. J.Y. Liu (Ruiyu Liu, IOCAS) and Prof. Xinzheng Li (IOCAS) for their guidance. We are indebted to the collectors of the China/Vietnam Comprehensive Oceanographic Survey to Beibu Gulf (1959–1960, 1962).