Redescription and molecular characterisation of the fish ectoparasite Anilocra capensis Leach, 1818 (Isopoda: Cymothoidae), with description of six new species of Anilocra Leach, 1818 from Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anilocra capensis Leach, 1818 is the only named species of Anilocra Leach, 1818 from South Africa. Anilocra is a large genus (> 40 species) with high levels of diversity reported from the Caribbean and Indo-West Pacific. Considering it is highly unlikely that all records of Anilocra from South Africa can be of a single species, the aim of this study was to better understand the diversity of Anilocra from this region and continent.

Methods

To redescribe A. capensis, the syntypes of A. capensis and specimens recorded as A. capensis from Africa were borrowed from the Natural History Museum, London, UK, and The iZiko South African Museum, Cape Town. Newly collected fresh samples of A. capensis were collected from off Cape Town, South Africa. Morphological redescriptio

SUBMITTER: Welicky RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6676570 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature