Caligus infestans Heller, 1865

Dippenaar, Susan M. & Sebone, Makwena M., 2025, Caligus (Caligidae: Siphonostomatoida) species off southern Africa with the description of C. pillaii sp. nov., Zootaxa 5686 (2), pp. 151-197 : 155-157

Caligus infestans Heller, 1865

( Figs 3A–D )

Hosts: Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus) ; Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepède) ( Scombridae : Scombriformes); Sphyraena barracuda (Edwards) ( Sphyraenidae : Carangiformes)

Locality: Off east coast South Africa (Indian Ocean)— K. pelamis , S. commerson ; off west coast South Africa (Atlantic Ocean)— S. barracuda

Material examined: 6♀ + 4♂

Material collected: 1♀ + 1♂ from K. pelamis ; 12♀ + 5♂ from S. commerson ; 6♀ + 3♂ from S. barracuda

Voucher material: 3♀ + 2♂ ( SAMC-A099196 ) from S. commerson deposited in the Iziko South African Museum , Cape Town, South Africa .

Adult female ( Fig. 3A ) genital complex distolateral corners lobed, reaching posterior margin of proximal segment of 2-segmented abdomen; antenna with pointed posterior process (arrowed) on proximal segment ( Figs 3B, C ); post-antennal process (pap) robust, strongly curved with small inner pointed process (ip) ( Figs 3B, C ); sternal furca (sf) with widely divergent tines with tips slightly recurved inwards ( Fig. 3C ); leg 4 proximal segment with bulging outer margin (arrowed) ( Fig. 3D ) (cf. Cressey & Cressey 1980; Pillai 1985).

Remarks: This report confirms previous reports off southern Africa ( Dippenaar 2004).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Caligus infestans Heller adult female: A. adult female and male, dorsal view; B. cephalothorax, ventral view (a2 = antenna, arrow = posterior process; pap = post-antennal process, ip = inner process); C. cephalothorax, ventral view (a2 = antenna, arrow = posterior process; pap = post-antennal process, ip = inner process; mpp = maxillule posterior process; sf = sternal furca); D. thorax, ventral view (arrow = leg 4 exopod bulging outer margin).