Two Species of Caligus (Copepoda, Caligidae) from Australian Waters, with a Description of Some Developmental Stages

Abstract

Adult females, males, and five developmental stages of Caligus epidemicus n. sp. are described from material collected from bream (Mylio butcheri Munro, 1949) and mullet (Mugil cephalus L.; Alorichetta forsteri Cuv. and Val., 1836; Liza argentea Quoy and Gaimard, 1825; and Myxus elongans Gunther, 1861) during a population explosion of the parasite in the lower Mitchell River area, Victoria, Australia, associated with a period of high temperature and salinity; the adults can be distinguished from other species of Caligus by the possession of spines immediately posterior to first maxillae and to the interpodal plate of the first pereiopods, by abbreviated appearance of posterior part of body and by the rather short seta on inner distal angle of first pereiopod. Caligus eiongatus Nordmann, 1832, is recorded from Eubalichthys moaicus (Ramsay and Ogilby, 1888) for the first time, from Port Hacking.