Rhopalione sp.

Boyko, Christopher B. & Williams, Jason D., 2024, New records of bopyrid parasites (Crustacea, Isopoda, Epicaridea) of pea crabs (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pinnotheridae) with descriptions of two new species of Rhopalione Pérez, 1921 and a review of the genus, Zoosystema 46 (7), pp. 149-175 : 172

Rhopalione sp.

Rhopalione sp. – Ng & Ahyong 2022: 230, fig. 75E, F [ ex Magnotheres globosus (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846) , Singapore]. — Williams et al. 2023: 533 [list].

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Singapore • 1 ♀ Magnotheres globosus (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1846) (10.7 mm CL, 14.6 mm CW), ex Pinna atropurpurea G. B. Sowerby I, 1825 ( Pinnidae ); Changi East, east of Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal beach, near Changi Point, intertidal area; 14-16.XII.2016; S. K.Tan et al. leg.; ZRC 2017.1020.

REMARKS

A female parasite was figured in color by Ng & Ahyong (2022) and appears to be a new species; unfortunately, the specimen could not be located in the ZRC during this study. There is evidence of parasitism on the host, as there are at least three small puncture marks on the left side of pleomeres 1 and 2, indicating feeding by the female bopyrid.

The host (ZRC 2017.1020) as seen in Ng & Ahyong (2022: fig. 75A) appears to have any asymmetrical carapace with the right side swollen, suggesting branchial parasitism by another species of bopyrid; however, we have seen the specimen and it is not parasitized branchially.