First record of the genus Anuropodione Bourdon, 1967 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Bopyridae) from the South Atlantic

Abstract

The family Bopyridae Rafinesque, 1815 is comprised of parasitic isopods with a life cycle involving an intermediate host (copepod) and a definitive host (decapod crustacean). The genus Anuropodione Bourdon, 1967 occurs in all oceans and encompasses five species that are only known as parasites of squat lobsters belonging to the genus Munida Leach, 1820. Despite the broad distribution of the genus, no species has ever been recorded from the South Atlantic. A total of 416 specimens of Munida iris A. Milne-Edwards, 1880 were collected in Potiguar Basin around the isobaths of 400 m, including 24 individuals (5.77%) containing parasites within their branchial chambers. Male parasites showed considerable variability in the number of pleomeres, with many showing four pleomeres, a number previously unknown for males of any species in the genus. These specimens represent the first occurrence of the genus Anuropodione and the species A. carolinensis Markham, 1974 from the South Atlantic (Brazilian waters).