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Resurrection of Alebion difficile (van Beneden, 1892) (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) with notes on other species of Alebion Krøyer, 1863 collected from elasmobranchs off South Africa and an updated key of the adult females

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Abstract

Alebion Krøyer, 1863 is one of the genera of the Caligidae Burmeister, 1835 and can easily be distinguished from other genera by the presence of modified exopodal spines on legs 1–3. Currently there are eight recognised species infecting a variety of elasmobranch hosts. Alebion difficile (van Beneden, 1892) is resurrected based on the difference in the structure of the spermatophores on the genital complex of the female but also the difference in the relative lengths of the posterior processes of the genital complex, the lateral processes on the first abdominal somite and the caudal rami. Additionally, the adult male of A. difficile is described and illustrated and notes provided about the morphology of the sub-adult females and males. Other Alebion species and their hosts collected off South Africa are reported and an updated key to the adult females of the species of Alebion is provided.

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Acknowledgements

The author thanks the Department of Biodiversity at the University of Limpopo (UL) and KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board for field and laboratory support, Ms BP Jordaan (UL) for assistance with fieldwork and Mr T Mangena and Ms MC Lebepe (both UL) for assistance with collection; as well as the Department of Research Development and Administration (UL) and the National Research Foundation (IPRR) for financial support. Additionally, I wish to thank Mr D Vaughan (then an employee of the Two Oceans Aquarium) for the collection of some A. difficile specimens from C. taurus from the Eastern Cape and the OCEARCH project, South Africa, for the collection of two specimens of A. difficile from C. carcharias. Furthermore, I have to acknowledge Marine Dynamics (Kleinbaai), especially Mr W Chivell and Mr H Otto, who assisted with obtaining host specimens and provision of laboratory space.

Funding

This study was finded by the University of Limpopo, National Research Foundation (IPRR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa

    Susan M. Dippenaar

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  1. Susan M. Dippenaar
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Correspondence to Susan M. Dippenaar.

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The author declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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All applicable institutional, national and international guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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This article was registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as 2BAF9415-75EF-43F0-8ECB-736414966706. This article was published as an Online First article on the online publication date shown on this page. The article should be cited by using the doi number. This is the Version of Record.

This article is part of the Topical Collection Arthropoda.

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Dippenaar, S.M. Resurrection of Alebion difficile (van Beneden, 1892) (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) with notes on other species of Alebion Krøyer, 1863 collected from elasmobranchs off South Africa and an updated key of the adult females. Syst Parasitol 95, 881–891 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-018-9811-3

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