A new ergasilid copepod from lates perches in East Africa: morphology, phylogenetics, and genetic structure of <i>Ergasilus ereimia</i> sp. nov.

ABSTRACT: Copepods are widely distributed across marine and freshwater environments and are often praised for their immense taxonomic and functional diversity. However, relatively little is known about parasitic copepods, particularly regarding their phylogenetic relationships. This study investigates the morphology and phylogenetic positioning of a proposed new species of parasitic copepods described as Ergasilus ereimia sp. nov. (Ergasilidae). The ectoparasitic female copepods (1,645 specimens) were obtained by performing parasitological screening of ethanol-preserved gills of lates perches from Lake Turkana (Kenya; 4 specimens of Lates niloticus, 6 specimens of Lates longispinis) and Lake Albert (Uganda; 5 specimens of L. niloticus) in East Africa. Light and confocal m

SUBMITTER: Vandenberg F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12908592 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature