A parasitic copepod, Amplexibranchius bryconis gen. et sp. nov. (Ergasilidae: 
Acusicolinae), from an Amazonian fish and remarks on the importance of leg 
morphology in this subfamily

Thatcher, Vernon E.; Paredes, Victoria

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A parasitic copepod, Amplexibranchius bryconis gen. et sp. nov. (Ergasilidae: Acusicolinae), from an Amazonian fish and remarks on the importance of leg morphology in this subfamily

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Citation

Thatcher, V. E., & Paredes, V. (1985). A parasitic copepod, Amplexibranchius bryconis gen. et sp. nov. (Ergasilidae: Acusicolinae), from an Amazonian fish and remarks on the importance of leg morphology in this subfamily. Amazoniana: Limnologia et Oecologia Regionalis Systematis Fluminis Amazonas, 9(2), 205-214.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0004-7566-6

Abstract

The female of Amplexibranchius bryconis gen. et sp. nov. (Copepoda: Ergasilidae: Acusicolinae)
is described from the gill filaments of an amazonian fish, Brycon cephalus (GÜNTNER), obtained at
Iquitos, Peru. The new genus differs from Acusicola CRESSEY , 1970, in having a more complex latching
antenna in which a sleeve-like extension of the second segment nearly covers the third segment and claw.
The new genus also differs from all known ergasiloids in having a 2-segmented first endopod without setae
and þectinate, not plumose, setae on all other rami. These modifications imply a loss of swimming capacity which is linked to secure fixation on the gill filament. The first and second endopods of several
Ergasilidae and Vaigamidae are compared with those of the new genus. It is shown that these structures
are similar among those ergasiloids that can swim. It is proposed that the development of a secute
antennal latch has made swimming unnecessaruy and has freed the legs to evolve for other functions. It is
concluded that leg morphology may be useful in defining genera in Acusicolinae.