Three new species of dicyemid mesozoans (phylum Dicyemida) from Amphioctopus fangsiao (Mollusca: Cephalopoda), with comments on the occurrence patterns of dicyemids.

Three new species of dicyemid mesozoans are described from the renal appendages of Amphioctopus fangsiao, collected off Akashi, in Harima Nada, and from Osaka Bay. Dicyema akashiense n. sp. is a small species that reaches about 900 microm in length. The vermiform stages are characterized as having 15-17 peripheral cells, a conical calotte, and an axial cell that extends to the base of the metapolar cells. Infusoriform embryos consist of 37 cells; two nuclei are present in each urn cell, and the refringent bodies are solid. Dicyema helocephalum n. sp. is a small species that reaches about 800 microm in length. The vermiform stages are characterized as having 22 peripheral cells, a disc-shaped calotte, and an axial cell that extends to the base of the propolar cells. Infusoriform embryos consist of 37 cells; a single nucleus is present in each urn cell, and the refringent bodies are solid. Dicyema awajiense n. sp. is a small species that reaches about 300 microm in length. The vermiform stages are characterized as having 22 peripheral cells, a conical calotte, and an axial cell that extends to the middle of the propolar cells. Infusoriform embryos consist of 37 cells; a single nucleus is present in each urn cell, and the refringent bodies are solid. In A. fangsiao various occurrence patterns of dicyemid species were observed, including instances where different dicyemid species were found in the renal appendage on each side. This suggests that dicyemids infect each renal appendage independently. The prevalence, reproductive traits, calotte shapes, and co-occurrence patterns of dicyemids are briefly discussed.