Redescription and Taxonomic Remarks of the Lichomolgid Copepod Paraphiloconcha meretricis (Crustacea: Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida) Parasitic on the Bivalve Meretrix lamarckii from Japan

Abstract

Paraphiloconcha meretricis Yamaguti, 1936, an incompletely known lichomolgid copepod living in the pericardium of the hard clam Meretrix lamarckii Deshayes, 1853, is redescribed from the southeastern coast of Japan. Although the genus Paraphiloconcha is closely related to Philoconcha, it can be differentiated from the latter by the presence of large lateral processes on the metasomites, a three-segmented maxilliped, and relatively more developed leg setation. In consideration of the morphology and development of mollusk-associated lichomolgid genera, Philoblenna and Briarella, both of which have been assigned to the family Philoblennidae until now, are transferred to the Lichomolgidae.