Peniculus hokutae

Peniculus hokutae is a species of parasitic pennellid copepod. It has been described in 2018, from a single female.[1] The type-host is the myctophid fish Symbolophorus evermanni and the type-locality is off Japan. The Japanese name of this species is hokuto-kozutsu-hijikimushi.[1]

Peniculus hokutae
Peniculus hokutae attached to its host
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Class: Hexanauplia
Order: Siphonostomatoida
Family: Pennellidae
Genus: Peniculus
Species:
P. hokutae
Binomial name
Peniculus hokutae
Ohtsuka, Nishikawa & Boxshall, 2018

According to Ohtsuka, Nishikawa & Boxshall,[1] this species is the first record of parasitism by the genus Peniculus on a mesopelagic myctophid fish.

The species was distinguished from other congeners by (1) the presence of a conical process anterior to the rostrum; (2) the secondary elongation of the first pedigerous somite; (3) the incorporation of the third and fourth pedigerous somites into the trunk; (4) the unilobate maxillule bearing two unequal apical setae; (5) the lack of any processes on the first segment of the maxilla.[1]

Line drawings of Peniculus hokutae

References

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