Telephryxus, Williams & Boyko, 2021

Williams, Jason D. & Boyko, Christopher B., 2021, Out on a limb: novel morphology and position on appendages of two new genera and three new species of ectoparasitic isopods (Epicaridea: Dajidae) infesting isopod and decapod hosts, Zoosystema 43 (4), pp. 79-100 : 87-88

Genus Telephryxus n. gen.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A2832732-89F2-4D20-A01D-D7ACC4D4D909

TYPE SPECIES. — Telephryxus clypeus n. sp.

ETYMOLOGY. — The genus name is derived from the Greek prefix τῆΛΕ- (tele-), meaning “far away” in reference to the specialization of the female of the species on the antennule of the host crab rather than on the host body (as in “far away from the host’s body”) as well as to the occurrence of the sole species in the abyssopelagic zone (far away from the habitat of most dajids), in combination with - phryxus, from the Boeotian prince Phryxus (ΦΡΊξος) of Greek mythology, a common ending for dajid, as well as some bopyrid, genera. The gender is masculine.

INCLUDED SPECIES. — Telephryxus clypeus n. sp. (type species).

DIAGNOSIS. — Female. Body spheroid; cephalon externally indistinguishable from pereon. Antennules each as flat triangular plate; antennae each as flat rectangular plate lateral to oral cone. Maxillipeds inflated, rectangular, each with recurved maxilliped digitiform extension (“appendix”) at posterolateral corner. Pereopods 1-5 subequal in size and shape. Oostegite 1 largest, broadly ovate with large triangular posterior accessory lobe; oostegites 2-4 flat, ovate; oostegite 5 flat, tapering. Pleon apparently modified as subquadrate, broad, thickened plate with two circular medial holes, subequal in size; hole surrounding distal portion of host antennular peduncle with one small additional hole on each lateral margin.

Male. Cephalon fused with pereomere 1; cephalic slits present. Antennules each as single ovate plate lateral to and extending posterior to oral cone; antennae of two segments each, flagella absent. Pereomeres 2-7 distinct, lateral margins recurved ventrally. Pereopods 1-6 subequal in size and shape; pereopod 7 reduced, single rounded stub on right side, rounded stub plus dactylus on left side. Pleon tapering to rounded tip, all segments fused, distinct from pereomere 7; pleopods lacking. Cryptoniscus larva: Body tear-drop shaped. Cephalon medial region of posterior margin convex, lateral regions concave, posterolateral margins extended posteriorly. Antennules of three articles each, basal article triangular, article 2 quadrate, article 3 digitiform, inserted into article 2 distoventrally. Antennae of nine articles each, peduncular articles subequal in size; flagellar articles approximately half width of peduncular articles. Oral cone lacking oral sucker (possible artifact due to loss during collection). Pereomeres 1-7 with entire coxal plates. Pereopod 1 with short, slightly curved dactylus, propodus semi-spherical; pereopods 2-6 with more elongate curved dactyli, propodi progressively more elongate. Pereopod 7 with long, slightly curved dactylus, propodus elongate with two large multifid setae near base of dactylus; carpus with distal large multifid seta; merus triangular with anterodorsal edge extending into spine-like extension, ischium triangular, basis cylindrical. Pleon with five pairs of biramous pleopods, endopods cylindrical, exopods triangular. Pleotelson oval. Uropods biramous, sympod broad, endopod slightly longer than exopod.

REMARKS

See Remarks above under Akrophryxus milvus n. gen., n. sp. for comparison of female and male characters of Akrophryxus n. gen., Telephryxus n. gen., and other dajid genera.