First Japanese Record of Epistylis wuhanensis (Ciliophora: Epistylididae) Attached to Lernaea cyprinacea (Copepoda), with a List of Epistylis Species Attached to Metazoans in Japan

Abstract

The epistylidid ciliate Epistylis wuhanensis Wang, Zhou, Guo, and Gu, 2017 was found attached to the body surface of Lernaea cyprinacea Linnaeus, 1758 (Copepoda: Lernaeidae) parasitizing Rhinogobius similis Gill, 1859 (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the Arida River in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. This epistylidid was described based on live ciliates, stained specimens, and scanning electron microscope observation with molecular information. This is the first record of E. wuhanensis from Japan and the second record of the epistylidid attached to metazoans. A list of records of Epistylis Ehrenberg, 1830 species attached to metazoans in Japan is proposed.