Ceratothoa nipaluna sp. nov. (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from Hobart Bay, southeastern Tasmania, a buccal parasite of the Little Weed Whiting, Neoodax balteatus (Valenciennes, 1840)

2025/03/16 by Niel L. Bruce, Nico J. Smit, Kerry A. Hadfield · 1 voice
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Marine Biology and Ecology Research #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions

paper · doi:10.1080/17451000.2025.2478874

openalex publication_date 2025/03/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27

Abstract

Ceratothoa nipaluna sp. nov. is described from Little Weed Whiting Neoodax balteatus (Odacidea) from Hobart Bay, Tasmania. The smallest species of the genus, in addition to the small size and host identity, it may be identified by the weakly ovate body shape, pereonite 1 anterolateral margins scarcely produced, pereopods 5–7 without a prominent carina, the pleotelson with a broadly rounded posterior margin, relatively short and robust pereopods, and the uropodal rami being distally narrowly rounded and not extending to the posterior margin of the pleotelson. It is known only from the type locality.

Discussions

• The description of our new fish parasitic isopod species, Ceratothoa nipaluna from the mouths of Little Weed Whitings in Tasmania is online! The species name is the name of the Hobart region in the la [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]

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