collecting-marine-gnathiid-isopod-fish-parasites-with-light-traps

Collecting Marine Gnathiid Isopod Fish Parasites with Light Traps

A method to collect marine gnathiid isopod fish parasites with the use of light traps is presented. Gnathiid isopods are a major group of marine fish ...

Silliman University

Gnathiid isopods are common external parasites/micropredators that feed on the blood of marine fishes. During the course of processing samples of gnathiid isopods collected from light traps in the central Philippines, we observed a gnathiid attached to and apparently feeding from the abdomen of another gnathiid. Because the abdomens of both gnathiids were enlarged, it was unclear whether one actually fed on the blood meal of the other. Introduction of unfed gnathiids with fed gnathiids revealed that one gnathiid could and did feed on the blood meal of another. This is the first observation of apparent conspecific kleptoparasitism reported for gnathiid isopods.

Apparent kleptoparasitism in fish-parasitic gnathiid isopods.

Reply to the letter to the editor referencing to "Apparent kleptoparasitism in fish-parasitic gnathiid isopods" 10.1007/s00436-018-6152-8.

Due to their unusual life cycle that includes parasitic larval and free living adult stages, gnathiid isopods are typically overlooked in biodiversity surveys, even those that focus on parasites. While the Philippines sits within the region of highest marine biodiversity in the world, the coral triangle, no gnathiid species have been identified or described from that region. Here we present the first records of two gnathiid species collected from the Visayas, central Philippines:  Müller, 1993, previously described from Malaysia, and  Tanaka, 2004, previously described from southern Japan. This paper provides detailed morphological redescriptions, drawings and scanning electron microscope images as well as the first molecular characterisation of both species, Furthermore, a summary of the Central-Indo Pacific  species is provided.

First record and molecular characterisation of two  species (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae) from Philippine coral reefs, including a summary of all Central-Indo Pacific  species.

Article	Year
Apparent kleptoparasitism in fish-parasitic gnathiid isopods. Parasitology research\| PubMed ID: 30460538	2019
Reply to the letter to the editor referencing to "Apparent kleptoparasitism in fish-parasitic gnathiid isopods" 10.1007/s00436-018-6152-8. Parasitology research\| PubMed ID: 30941495	2019
First record and molecular characterisation of two species (Crustacea, Isopoda, Gnathiidae) from Philippine coral reefs, including a summary of all Central-Indo Pacific species. International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife\| PubMed ID: 33898237	2021

Mary O. Shodipo

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