Two new species of parasitic copepods from the genera Nothobomolochus and Unicolax (Cyclopoida: Bomolochidae) from Australian waters.

A 2016 collaborative survey of commercial fish parasites in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia led to the discovery of two new species of parasitic copepods belonging to the family Bomolochidae. Females of Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. were found attached to the gill filaments of Gerres subfasciatus and Gerres oyena. The new species most closely resembles N. leiognathicola and N. quadriceros. All 3 species possess 3 modified setae on the first antennulary segment that are approximately the same length and have a robust seta on the second antennulary segment adjacent to the 3 modified setae giving a superficial appearance of 4 modified setae on the antennule. The new species can be distinguished from these two species in its possession of longer inner setae on the first two endopodal segments of leg 4: the seta on endopodal segment 1 extends past the midline of the distal segment in the new species vs to the proximal margin of the distal segment in the other two species, and the seta on segment 2 extends well beyond the distal margin of the endopod in the new species vs just to the margin in the other two species. Females and males of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. were found in the nasal sinuses of Sillago maculata and Sillago ciliata. The new species differs from 6 of its 7 congeners in having a leg 4 exopod formula of II, I, 4 rather than II, I, 3 or II, I, 5. The new species resembles U. anonymous in this feature, but differs in its possession of a leg 5 that is relatively longer and less wide, and, whereas U. anonymous possesses inner and outer distal spines on leg 5 that are approximately the same length, those of the new species are relatively longer and asymmetrical. Unicolax longicrus n. sp. is unique among its congeners in its possession of a leg 4 with highly elongated endopodal segments 2 and 3, from which its name is derived. In addition to describing the two new species, host and locality reports for all species of Nothobomolochus and Unicolax are reviewed.

Introduction

As part of a concerted effort to survey parasites of commercial fish of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, a diversity of fish species were examined for parasitic copepods. Two new species of copepods belonging to the family Bomolochidae Claus, 1875 collected from Australian teleosts during this survey are described below: one belonging to the gill-inhabiting genus Nothobomolochus Vervoort, 1962 and the other the nostril-inhabiting genus Unicolax Cressey & Cressey, 1980. In addition to describing these two new species, we review all host and locality reports for each species of Nothobomolochus and Unicolax.

Materials & Methods

Fish were collected by tunnel net or rod-and-reel in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia in January and June of 2016 under permit 187264 from the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry following the guidelines of the Animal Welfare Unit at the University of Queensland (approval number SBS/248/15/ABRS/ARC). Fish examined consisted of 4 specimens of Gerres oyena (Forsskål, 1775), 4 specimens of Gerres subfasciatus Cuvier, 1830, 1 specimen of Sillago ciliata Cuvier, 1829, and 1 specimen of Sillago maculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824. The body surface, gill arches, and nasal passages were examined for parasitic copepods using a dissecting microscope. Copepods were preserved in 70% ethanol at the time of collection. Specimens were cleared in lactic acid for at least 3 h prior to examination in glass cavity slides using a Leica dissecting microscope. When necessary, appendages were dissected using tungsten wire needles that had been electrolytically sharpened in saturated potassium hydroxide following standard protocols. Observations and drawings were made on an Olympus BX51 compound microscope equipped with differential interference contrast (DIC) and a drawing tube. Measurements were made on the same microscope using an ocular reticule. Measurements are given in micrometers and are presented as the minimum and maximum, followed in parentheses by the mean, standard deviation, and number of specimens measured. Setation formulae are given from proximal to distal segment, separated by semicolons, with Roman numerals indicating spines and Arabic numerals indicating setae; aesthetasks are indicated with ae. Appendage terminology follows Huys & Boxshall (1991). Fish taxonomy follows Betancur et al. (2017) for classification above the family level, and Fishbase (Froese & Pauly, 2018) for family level and below. Museum abbreviations used are as follows: QM, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane, Australia; NHMUK, The Natural History Museum, Department of Life Sciences, London, UK; USNM, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., USA. The electronic version of this article in Portable Document Format (PDF) will represent a published work according to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), and hence the new names contained in the electronic version are effectively published under that Code from the electronic edition alone (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 2012). This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the ICZN. The ZooBank LSIDs (Life Science Identifiers) can be resolved and the associated information viewed through any standard web browser by appending the LSID to the prefix http://zoobank.org/. The LSID for this publication is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E8663AB9-EF47-4382-8096-C45B10A879A7. The online version of this work is archived and available from the following digital repositories: PeerJ, PubMed Central, and CLOCKSS.

Results

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D5F768DE-686A-4B00-B241-8BBA061BF4A9

Type-host: Gerres subfasciatus Cuvier, 1830 (Gerreiformes: Gerridae).

Other host: Gerres oyena (Forsskål, 1775) (Gerreiformes: Gerridae).

Type-locality: Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia (27°22′S, 153°13′E).

Site: Branchial chamber attached to gill lamellae.

Type-material: Holotype female (QM W29438) and 11 female paratypes (2 paratypes QM W29439; 4 paratypes NHMUK 2018.194–2018.197; 4 paratypes USNM 1532298–1532300), 1 fully dissected female paratype not deposited.

Etymology: This species is named in honor of John Page and Dave Thompson for their generosity in providing us with host specimens.

Adult female.

Body (Fig. 1C) 1,000–1,642 (1,371 ± 172; n = 9) long, measured along midline from frontal margin of rostrum to posterior margin of caudal rami excluding caudal setae; greatest width 602–768 (684 ± 48; 11) at posterior of dorsal cephalothoracic shield. Prosome 648–994 (815 ± 101; 10) long by 602–768 (684 ± 48; 11) wide, comprising broad cephalothorax and 3 free pedigerous somites. Urosome 467–647 (555 ± 62; 10) long by 196–241 (221 ± 15; 10) wide, comprising 5th pedigerous somite, genital double-somite, and 3 free abdominal somites. Genital double-somite (Fig. 1E) bearing paired genital apertures dorso-laterally. Abdominal somites unornamented; anal somite with anal slit deeply incised; bearing caudal rami. Caudal rami longer than wide, bearing principal seta and 5 small setae. Egg sacs elongate, multiseriate. Swimming leg armature summarized in Table 1.

Figure 1

Line drawings of Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp.

(A) Antennule, ventral view (dissected paratype). (B) Pedestal of first antennulary segment and modified adjacent seta, dorsal view (dissected paratype). (C) Habitus, dorsal view (holotype QM W29438). (D) Antenna, ventral view (dissected paratype). (E) Urosome, ventral view (holotype QM W29438). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Table 1

Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. swimming leg armature.

	Coxa	Basis	Exopod	Endopod
Leg 1	0-1	1-I	I-0; II, 6	0-1; 0-1; 5
Leg 2	0-1	1-0	I-0; I-1; IV, 5	0-1; 0-2; II, 3
Leg 3	0-1	1-0	I-0; I-1; II, I, 5	0-1; 0-2; II, 2
Leg 4	0-0	1-0	I-0; I-1; III, 4	0-1; 0-1; III

Antennule (Fig. 1A) indistinctly 7-segmented; first segment heavily sclerotized at base; second to fourth segments partially fused; 3 distal segments cylindrical. First segment with frontally-directed pedestal bearing 3 modified, spine-like setae (Fig. 1B) plus 2 hirsute setae proximally. Compound segments 2, 3, and 4 bearing in total: 10 hirsute setae arrayed along anterior margin, one proximal claw-like naked seta (Fig. 1B) and 2 conspicuously elongate naked setae on anterior margin, and 2 simple naked setae plus cluster of 4 naked setae on ventral surface; 2 short setae present on dorsal surface of segment. Distal 3 segments with the following setal formula: 4; 2 + 1 ae; 7 + 1 ae.

Antenna (Fig. 1D) uniramous, 3-segmented, comprising elongate coxobasis bearing long naked seta, short first endopodal segment bearing short seta, and heavily armed compound distal segment. Distal segment ornamented with 4 irregular rows of spinules, 2 rows of spinules extending onto elongate distal process; bearing one pectinate process extending distally and one medial, fan-like pectinate process; distal armature comprising 4 claw-like setae and 4 naked setae of unequal lengths.

Mandible (Fig. 2A) bearing two spinulate blades; ventral blade slightly longer than dorsal. Paragnath (Fig. 2B) ovoid, ornamented with multiple rows of small tooth-like spinules on margin and hairs along midline. Maxillule (Fig. 2B) consisting of rounded lobe with 3 hirsute setae and 1 small naked seta. Maxilla (Fig. 2C) indistinctly 2-segmented; proximal segment unarmed; distal segment with 2 unequal spinulate processes and 1 dorsal, small naked seta. Maxilliped (Fig. 2E) 3-segmented, comprising long syncoxa armed with one hirsute seta; middle segment tapering distally, armed with 2 unequal hirsute setae on medial margin; distal segment incorporated into claw and bearing hirsute seta; claw simple, lacking accessory process.

Figure 2

Line drawings of Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp.

(A) Mandible, ventral view (dissected paratype). (B) Maxillule and paragnath, ventral view (dissected paratype). (C) Maxilla, ventral view (dissected paratype). (D) Outer spines on leg 1 exopod, dorsal view (dissected paratype). (E) Maxilliped, ventral view (dissected paratype). (F) Leg 1, ventral view (dissected paratype), plumosity on setae not illustrated; arrowhead indicating inner seta represented by small rounded tubercle. (G) Intercoxal sclerite of leg 1, ventral view (holotype QM W29438). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Leg 1 (Fig. 2F) biramous, with flattened lamellate rami; members of leg pair joined by intercoxal sclerite (Fig. 2G) bearing lingulate process ornamented with elongate spinules on lateral margins. Coxa with inflated plumose seta, with blunt-apex drawn out into elongate tip. Basis ornamented with patch of rounded spinules proximally, outer plumose seta (Figs. 2D and 2F), and inner seta reduced to small rounded tubercle (arrowhead in Fig. 2F). Exopod (Figs. 2D and 2F) 2-segmented; proximal segment armed with large spine on dorsal surface ornamented with lingulate spinules and narrow tip; compound distal segment formed by fusion of segments 2 and 3, bearing 6 plumose setae (only 3 shown in Fig. 2D; plumosity not figured in Figs. 2D and 2F), 1 naked spine and 1 serrated spine on dorsal surface (Fig. 2D). Secondary cuticular thickenings present on ventral surface of compound distal segment, not indicative of original segmental articulations. Endopod 3-segmented; all segments flattened and expanded transversely; first and second segments each with inner plumose seta and ornamented with patch of small spinules on ventral surface and hair-like setules on outer margin; second segment with additional hair-like setules along inner margin; third segment armed with 5 plumose setae and with hair-like setules along inner margin.

Leg 2 (Fig. 3A) biramous; intercoxal sclerite (Fig. 3B) ornamented with 2 lateral fields of spinules. Coxa with inner plumose seta and outer swelling ornamented with elongate, blunt-tipped spinules. Basis with outer plumose seta and inner patch of hair-like setules proximally. Exopod 3-segmented, with setal formula: I-0; I-1; IV, 5. All spines bearing subterminal flagellum, and all but terminal 2 spines with bilateral spinulation. Endopod 3-segmented; first segment with plumose inner seta and hair-like setules on outer margin; second segment with 2 plumose inner setae and hair-like setules on inner and outer margins; third segment with 2 short, bilaterally spinulate spines and 3 plumose setae, and ornamented with hair-like setules on outer margin.

Figure 3

Line drawings of Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp.

(A) Leg 2, ventral view (dissected paratype). (B) Intercoxal sclerite of leg 2, ventral view (dissected paratype). (C) Leg 3, ventral view (dissected paratype). (D) Leg 5, ventral view (dissected paratype). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Leg 3 (Fig. 3C) biramous, with unornamented intercoxal sclerite. Coxa with inner plumose seta. Basis with outer naked seta on raised base. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment with outer spine and hair-like setules on inner margin; second segment with outer spine and inner seta; third segment with formula: II, I, 5. All outer spines with bilateral spinulation and subterminal flagellum. Terminal spine with spinulation on inner margin only and lacking flagellum. Endopod 3-segmented; first segment with plumose inner seta and hair-like setules along outer margin; second segment with 2 plumose setae and setules along inner and outer margins; third segment with 2 inner setae plus 2 spines bearing fine spinulation bilaterally, and ornamented with hair-like setules along outer margin.

Leg 4 (Fig. 4) biramous, with broad unornamented intercoxal sclerite. Coxa lacking inner seta. Basis with naked outer seta on slightly raised base. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment with long outer spine bearing elongate subterminal flagellum and ornamented with hair-like setules along inner margin of segment; second segment bearing plumose seta and outer spine ornamented with flagellum and unilateral spinulation; third segment with setal formula: III, 4; all spines with flagellum; proximal spine with unilateral spinulation; distal 2 spines with bilateral spinulation. Endopod 3-segmented; all segments ornamented with row of long hair-like setules along outer margin: first segment bearing plumose seta extending just beyond middle of third segment; second segment with inner plumose seta extending beyond tip of ramus, about to middle of outer distal spine; third segment with 3 bilaterally-spinulate spines distally; inner and outer distal spines each with flagellate tip; inner distal spine 30% longer than outer but only 40% as long as apical spine.

Figure 4

Line drawing of Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp.

Leg 4 and intercoxal sclerite, dorsal view (dissected paratype). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Leg 5 (Fig. 3D) 2-segmented: protopodal segment with naked outer seta; exopodal segment with 4 setae; outer 2 setae each with unilateral spinulation; terminal seta naked, inner seta with bilateral spinulation; terminal seta markedly longer than other elements but just shorter than segment. Leg 6 (Fig. 1E) represented by 3 setae on raised base near oviduct opening.

Remarks

The genus Nothobomolochus currently comprises 39 valid species (Walter & Boxshall, 2019), and the most recent key to species was provided by El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2014), although this does not include N. ilhoikimi Venmathi Maran et al., 2014. Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. can be readily distinguished from N. fradei Marques, 1965, N. ilhoikimi, N. lateolabracis (Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1959) Vervoort, 1962, N. lizae Ho and Lin, 2005, and N. sagaxi Avdeev, 1986 in its possession of 3, rather than 2, apical elements on the distal endopodal segment of leg 4. The new species differs from N. cornutus (Claus, 1864) Vervoort, 1962, N. cresseyi Timi & Sardella, 1997, N. cypseluri (Yamaguti, 1953) Vervoort, 1962, N. exocoeti Avdeev, 1978, N. gibber (Shiino, 1957) Vervoort, 1962, N. monodi El-Rashidy & Boxshall, 2014, N. oxyporhamphi Avdeev, 1977, N. paruchini Avdeev, 1978, N. scomberesocis (Krøyer, 1863) Vervoort, 1962, N. teres (Wilson, 1911) Pillai, 1967, and N. trichiuri Pillai & Natarajan, 1977 in possessing 3 modified setae on the pedestal on the first antennulary segment that are of approximately the same length, rather than possessing a proximal element at least 20–60% shorter than the 2 more distal processes. The new species can be differentiated from N. epulus Vervoort, 1962, N. gazzae (Shen, 1957) Vervoort, 1969, N. kanagurta (Pillai, 1965) Cressey & Cressey, 1980, N. longisaccus Ho and Lin, 2005, N. neomediterraneus El-Rashidy and Boxshall, 2001, N. ovalis Avdeev, 1977, and N. sigani Hameed & Kumar, 1988 in its lack of an accessory process on the female maxilliped claw.

The new species differs from N. multispinosus (Gnanamuthu, 1949) Vervoort, 1962, N. triceros (Bassett-Smith, 1898) Vervoort, 1962, and N. vervoorti Avdeev, 1986 in its possession of modified setae on the antennulary pedestal that are less than 1/3 the length of the cephalothorax, rather than greater than 1/3 the length. Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. further differs from the former two species in its possession of caudal rami that are shorter than the anal somite. The new species is readily distinguished from N. atlanticus Avdeev, 1978, N. chilensis Avdeev, 1974, N. elegans Avdeev, 1977, N. marginatus Avdeev, 1986, and N. pulicatensis Kaliyamurthy, 1990 in having a leg 4 distal exopod formula of II, I, 4 rather than II, I, 5.

Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. differs from N. saetiger (Wilson, 1911) Vervoort, 1962 in its possession of caudal rami that are longer than wide. It can be differentiated from N. denticulatus (Bassett-Smith, 1898) Vervoort, 1962, N. digitatus Cressey, 1970, N. gerresi Pillai, 1973, and N. thambus Ho, Do & Kasahara, 1983 in its possession of a robust, modified seta on the second antennulary segment adjacent to the 3 modified setae on the pedestal of the first segment, that gives the appearance of a fourth modified process, rather than a typical unmodified seta. The new species further differs from these 4 species in possessing a much shorter third pedigerous somite rather than a swollen third pedigerous somite that completely, or nearly completely, overlaps the fourth pedigerous somite, concealing it in dorsal view.

The new species closely resembles N. leiognathicola El-Rashidy & Boxshall, 2014 and N. quadriceros Pillai, 1973 in that all species possess a robust, modified seta on the second antennulary segment adjacent to the 3 modified setae on the first segment so that, superficially, they appear to have 4 modified setae on the antennule. It can be differentiated from N. leiognathicola in its possession of an outer element on the distal endopodal segment of leg 4 that is 3/4 the length of the inner element, rather than the length as in N. leiognathicola. The new species also possesses mandibular blades that are less asymmetrical: the shorter blade is 3/4 the length of the longer blade vs less than the length in N. leiognathicola. In addition, the inner setae on the first 2 endopodal segments of leg 4 are much longer in the new species: the seta on endopodal segment 1 extends past the midline of the distal segment in the new species vs just past the margin of segment 2 in N. leiognathicola, and the seta on segment 2 extends well beyond the distal margin of the endopod in the new species vs just to the margin in N. leiognathicola. Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp. is most similar to N. quadriceros but differs in the number of rows of spinules along the distal segment of the antenna. Whereas the new species possesses 4 rows of spinules, N. quadriceros as figured by Pillai (1973) possesses 9 rows of spinules. The new species can also be distinguished from N. quadriceros as figured by Pillai (1973) in the lengths of setal elements on leg 4: the outer spine on segment 2 of the exopod is relatively longer in the new species, extending past the midpoint of the third exopodal segment rather than just past the distal margin of the second exopodal segment; likewise the seta of endopodal segment 1 is relatively longer in the new species, extending past the midpoint of the third endopodal segment rather than to the distal margin of the second segment; and the distal endopodal segment of the new species bears an inner setal element that is 30% longer than the outer setal element, rather than approximately the same length.

One other species of Nothobomolochus has been reported parasitizing a species of Gerres. Nothobomolochus gerresi was described from Gerres filamentosus Cuvier by Pillai (1973) from Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram), India. In addition to the characters noted above, the new species can be further distinguished from N. gerresi in its possession of a longer outer spine on the first exopodal segment of leg 4, which extends past the midpoint of the third endopodal segment rather than to the distal margin of the second segment, and its possession of 4, rather than 10, rows of spinules along the distal segment of the antenna.

Nothobomolochus host associations and biogeography

The hosts and localities of all known species of Nothobomolochus are summarized in Table 2. The 39 species of Nothobomolochus have collectively been reported 112 times, excluding the suspect host reports identified by El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2014). Following the revised classification of bony fishes by Betancur et al. (2017), the genus Nothobomolochus parasitizes at least 11 orders of fish (Acanthuriformes, Atheriniformes, Beloniformes, Carangiformes, Chaetodontiformes, Clupeiformes, Gerreiformes, Lobotiformes, Lutjaniformes, Mugiliformes, and Scombriformes) and 22 different families, with some host orders currently incertae sedis in the Eupercaria and Carangaria series. The vast majority of host reports come from the orders Beloniformes (n = 56; 50%), Scombriformes (n = 17; 15%), and Clupeiformes (n = 14; 13%), with 6 or fewer reports (<5%) from the other 8 host orders. Most reports are from the families Belonidae (n = 41; 37%), followed by the Exocoetidae (n = 11; 10%), Clupeidae (n = 9; 8%), and Scombridae and Stromateidae (n = 7 each; 6%) with 4 or fewer reports (<4%) from the 17 other host families.

Table 2

Nothobomolochus species hosts and localities.

Records in bold indicate type hosts and localities.

Species	Host	Host family	Host order	Locality	Marine Ecoregion	Source
N. atlanticus  Avdeev, 1978	Exocoetus volitans	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Tropical Atlantic	Tropical Atlantic	Avdeev (1978)
N. chilensis Avdeev, 1974	Scomberesox saurus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	SE Pacific Ocean	Eastern Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1974)
	Cheilopogon furcatus	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Tropical Atlantic	Tropical Atlantic	Avdeev (1978)
	Exocoetidae	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia	Central Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
	Exocoetidae	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
N. cornutus (Claus, 1864) Vervoort, 1962	Luvarus imperialis	Luvaridae	Acanthuriformes	Messina Straits, Italy	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Claus (1864)
N. cresseyi Timi & Sardella, 1997	Engraulis anchoita	Engraulidae	Clupeiformes	Argentina	Temperate South American	Timi & Sardella (1997)
N. cypseluri (Yamaguti, 1953) Vervoort, 1962	Cheilopogon agoo	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Mie Prefecture, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Yamaguti (1953)
	Cheilopogon cyanopterus	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Northern Indian Ocean	Western Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
	Cypselurus oligolepis	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
	Cypselurus sp.	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
N. denticulatus (Bassett-Smith, 1898) Vervoort, 1962	Sphyraena jello	Sphyraenidae	Order incertae sedis in Carangaria	Trincomalee, Sri Lanka	Western Indo Pacific	Bassett-Smith (1898)
	Selar crumenophthalmus	Carangidae	Carangiformes	Coral Sea; Port Moresby	Central Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1986)
	Sphyraena chrysotaenia	Sphyraenidae	Order incertae sedis in Carangaria	Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt	Temperate Northern Atlantic	El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2014)
	Sphyraena jello	Sphyraenidae	Order incertae sedis in Carangaria	Trivandrum, India	Western Indo Pacific	Pillai (1965)
	Sphyraena jello	Sphyraenidae	Order incertae sedis in Carangaria	Vietnam	Central Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1986)
N. digitatus Cressey & Collette, 1970	Strongylura strongylura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Penang, Malaysia	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura leiura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Island of Java	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura leiura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Philippines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura leiura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Gulf of Thailand	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura strongylura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Australia	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura strongylura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Calicut, Bombay	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura strongylura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Hong Kong	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura strongylura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	India	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus crocodilus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Northern Borneo	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus punctulatus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	New Guinea	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
N. elegans Avdeev, 1977	Scomberesox saurus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Southeastern Pacific Ocean	Eastern Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
N. epulus Vervoort, 1962	Plectorhinchus macrolepis	Haemulidae	Lutjaniformes	Niger Delta, Nigeria	Tropical Atlantic	Vervoort (1962)
N. exocoeti Avdeev, 1978	Exocoetus volitans	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Tropical Atlantic	Tropical Atlantic	Avdeev (1978)
N. fradei Marques, 1965	Sardinella maderensis	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Sao Tome, Gulf of Guinea	Tropical Atlantic	Marques (1965)
	Atherinomorus lacunosus [as Allanetta forskali ]	Atherinidae	Atheriniformes	Arabian Gulf	Western Indo Pacific	Ho & Sey (1996)
	Herklotsichthys punctatus	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt	Temperate Northern Atlantic	El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2009)
	Sardina pilchardus	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt	Temperate Northern Atlantic	El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2009)
N. gazzae (Shen, 1957) Vervoort, 1969	Gazza minuta	Leiognathidae	Chaetodontiformes	Hainan Island, China	Central Indo Pacific	Shen (1957)
	Siganus fuscescens	Siganidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Chiayi County, Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Lin & Ho (2008)
N. gerresi Pillai, 1973	Gerres filamentosus	Gerreidae	Gerreiformes	Trivandrum, India	Western Indo Pacific	Pillai (1973)
N. gibber (Shiino, 1957) Vervoort, 1962	Tylosurus crocodilus [as Tylosus [sic] giganteus]	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Owase, Mie, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Shiino (1957)
	Ablennes hians	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Andaman Island	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Ablennes hians	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Bay of Bengal	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Ablennes hians	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Borneo	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Ablennes hians	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Ablennes hians	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Philippines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Ablennes hians	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Torres Straits	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Belone belone	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Funchal, Madeira	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Belone svetovidovi	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Genoa, Italy	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Belone svetovidovi	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Tunisia	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Belones platyura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Eniwetok Atoll	Eastern Indo Pacific	Lewis (1968)
	Euleptorhamphus viridis	Hemiramphidae	Beloniformes	Timor Sea	Central Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Aldabra	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Ascension Island	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Fakaofo Atoll	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Fanning Island	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Gulf of Guinea	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Line Islands	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Marshall Island	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Somoa	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Platybelone argalus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Tokelau Island	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Strongylura leiura	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
	Tylosurus acus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus crocodilus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Kerala, India	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus crocodilus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Madagascar	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus crocodilus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Red Sea	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus crocodilus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Seychelles	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
	Tylosurus crocodilus	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Zanzibar	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Collette (1970)
N. ilhoikimi Venmathi Maran et al., 2014	Tenualosa ilisha	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Al-Faw City, Iraq	Western Indo Pacific	Venmathi Maran et al. (2014)
N. johndaveorum n. sp.	Gerres subfasciatus	Gerreidae	Gerreiformes	Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 27°22′S, 153°13′E	Central Indo Pacific	Present study
	Gerres oyena	Gerreidae	Gerreiformes	Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 27°26′S, 153°24′E	Central Indo Pacific	Present study
N. kanagurta (Pillai, 1965) Cressey & Cressey, 1980	Rastrelliger kanagurta	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Kerala, India	Central Indo Pacific	Pillai (1965)
	Rastrelliger faughni	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Philippines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Rastrelliger kanagurta	Scombridae	Scombriformes	China	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Rastrelliger kanagurta	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Madras, India	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Rastrelliger kanagurta	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Red Sea	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Rastrelliger kanagurta	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
	Scomber japonicus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Gulf of Mannar, India	Western Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1978)
N. lateolabracis  (Yamaguti & Yamasu, 1959) Vervoort, 1962	Lateolabrax japonicus	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Inland Sea, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Yamaguti & Yamasu (1959)
	Lateolabrax japonicus	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Ashai River, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Ho, Do & Kasahara (1983)
	Sillago sihama	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
N. leiognathicola  El-Rashidy & Boxshall, 2014	Leiognathus klunzingeri	Leiognathidae	Chaetodontiformes	Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt	Temperate Northern Atlantic	El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2014)
N. lizae Ho & Lin, 2005	Liza macrolepis	Mugilidae	Mugiliformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
N. longisaccus  Ho & Lin, 2005	Thryssa hamiltonii	Engraulidae	Clupeiformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
N. marginatus  Avdeev, 1986	unknown	NA	NA	10°07′S 145°57′E	Central Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1986)
N. monodi El-Rashidy & Boxshall, 2014	Hemiramphus far	Hemiramphidae	Beloniformes	Madagascar	Western Indo Pacific	Monod (1970)
N. multispinosus (Gnanamuthu, 1949) Vervoort, 1962	Dussumiera acuta	Dussumieridae	Clupeiformes	Madras, India	Western Indo Pacific	Gnanamuthu (1949)
	Dussumiera elopsoides	Dussumieridae	Clupeiformes	Kerala, India	Western Indo Pacific	Pillai (1985)
N. neomediterraneus El-Rashidy & Boxshall, 2011	Siganus rivulatus	Siganidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Mediterranean Sea, off Egypt	Temperate Northern Atlantic	El-Rashidy & Boxshall (2011)
N. ovalis Avdeev, 1977	Siganus stellatus	Siganidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Mannar Straits, Indian Ocean	Western Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
N. oxyporhamphi  Avdeev, 1977	Oxyporhamphus micropterus	Hemiramphidae	Beloniformes	Galapagos Islands	Tropical Eastern Pacific	Avdeev (1977)
N. paruchini  Avdeev, 1978	Exocoetus volitans	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Tropical Atlantic	Tropical Atlantic	Avdeev (1978)
N. pulicatensis  Kaliyamurthy, 1990	Hyporhamphus quoyi	Hemiramphidae	Beloniformes	Pulicat Lake, India	Western Indo Pacific	Kaliyamurthy (1990)
N. quadriceros Pillai, 1973	Gazza minuta	Leiognathidae	Chaetodontiformes	Trivandrum, India	Western Indo Pacific	Pillai (1973)
N. saetiger (Wilson, 1911) Vervoort, 1962	Exocoetus volitans	Exocoetidae	Beloniformes	Massachusetts, USA	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Wilson (1911)
	Menidia menidia	Atherinopsidae	Atheriniformes	North Carolina, USA	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Pearse (1947)
N. sagaxi Avdeev, 1986	Sardinops sagax	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	South Kuril Island 43°42′N 148°30′E	Temperate Northern Pacific	Avdeev (1986)
N. scomberesocis (Krøyer, 1863) Vervoort, 1962	Scomberesoxsp.	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Atlantic Ocean	NA	Krøyer (1863)
	Scomberesox saurus [as S. rondeletii]	Belonidae	Beloniformes	Cabo Creus, Spain	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Deboutteville & Nunes-Ruivo (1958)
N. sigani Hameed & Kumar, 1988	Siganus canaliculatus [as Siganus oramin]	Siganidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Trivandrum, India	Western Indo Pacific	Hameed & Kumar (1988)
N. teres (Wilson, 1911) Pillai, 1967	Brevoortia tyrannus	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Massachusetts, USA	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Wilson (1911)
	Brevoortia smithi	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Charlotte Harbor, Florida, USA	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey (1983)
	Brevoortia tyrannus	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Charlotte Harbor, Florida, USA	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey (1983)
N. thambus Ho, Do & Kasahara, 1983	Konosirus punctatus	Clupeidae	Clupeiformes	Ashai River, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Ho, Do & Kasahara (1983)
N. triceros (Bassett-Smith, 1898) Vervoort, 1962	Pampus argenteus [as Stromateus cinereus]	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Arabian Sea	Western Indo Pacific	Bassett-Smith (1898)
	Lobotes surinamensis	Lobotidae	Lobotiformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
	Pampus argenteus	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Ashai River, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Ho, Do & Kasahara (1983)
	Pampus argenteus	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Kuwait Bay	Western Indo Pacific	Ho, Kim & Sey (2000)
	Pampus argenteus	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Pacific Ocean	NA	Yamaguti (1939)
	Pampus argenteus	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Persian Gulf, Iran	Western Indo Pacific	Khosheghbal & Pazooki (2015)
	Pampus argenteus	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
	Pampus argenteus [as Stromateoides argentus]	Stromateidae	Scombriformes	Kwangtung, China	Central Indo Pacific	Shen (1957)
N. trichiuri Pillai & Natarajan, 1977	Lepturacanthus savala [as Trichiurus savala]	Trichiuridae	Scombriformes	Trivandrum, India	Western Indo Pacific	Pillai & Natarajan (1977)
	Lepturacanthus savala [as Trichiurus savala]	Trichiuridae	Scombriformes	Trivandrum, India	Western Indo Pacific	Hameed & Kumar (1988)
	Trichiurus lepturus	Trichiuridae	Scombriformes	Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Ho & Lin (2005)
N. vervoorti  Avdeev, 1986	Ilisha elongata	Pristigasteridae	Clupeiformes	Vietnam	Central Indo Pacific	Avdeev (1986)

Following the marine realms established by Spalding et al. (2007), we observe the following distribution for the genus Nothobomolochus as currently understood. Of the 112 reports of species of Nothobomolochus, 36 (33%) come from the Central Indo-Pacific realm, followed by 30 (27%) from the Western Indo-Pacific, 13 (12%) in the Temperate Northern Atlantic, and 10 or fewer (<9% each) in the following 5 realms: Temperate Northern Pacific (10), Tropical Atlantic (10), Eastern Indo-Pacific (9), Temperate South American (1), and Tropical Eastern Pacific (1). The report of N. scomberesocis from the Atlantic Ocean by Krøyer (1863) and N. triceros from the Pacific Ocean by Yamaguti (1939) could not be unambiguously assigned to a realm because the reports lack precise locality information. There are currently no reports of Nothobomolochus from the Temperate Australasia, Temperate Southern Africa, Arctic, or Southern Ocean realms.

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:0E24C5F0-29C1-49C9-830D-7124D27D3FAE

Type-host: Sillago maculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 (Order-level incertae sedis in Eupercaria: Sillaginidae).

Other host: Sillago ciliata Cuvier, 1829 (Order-level incertae sedis in Eupercaria: Sillaginidae).

Type-locality: Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia (27°26′S, 153°24′E).

Site: Nasal cavity.

Type-material: Holotype female (QM W29434) and 5 female paratypes (1 paratype QM W29435; 2 paratypes NHMUK 2018.198–2018.199; 2 paratypes USNM 1532294–1532295). Allotype male (QM W29436) and 4 male paratypes (2 paratypes NHMUK 2018.200–2018.201; 2 paratypes USNM 1532296–1532297).

Etymology: The name of this species is derived from the Latin longus (long) and crus (leg), in reference to the elongate endopodal segments of leg 4.

Adult female.

Body (Fig. 5A) 980–1430 (1171 ± 183; n = 6) long, measured along midline from frontal margin of rostrum to posterior margin of caudal rami excluding caudal setae; greatest width 432–600 (501 ± 64; 6) at posterior of dorsal cephalothoracic shield. Prosome 490–770 (641 ± 115; 6) long by 432–600 (501 ± 64; 6) wide, comprising broad cephalothorax and 3 free pedigerous somites. Urosome 450–650 (553 ± 85; 6) long by 162–210 (192 ± 19; 6) wide, comprising 5th pedigerous somite, genital double-somite, and 3 free abdominal somites. Genital double-somite (Fig. 5A) bearing paired genital apertures dorso-laterally. Anal somite (Fig. 5E) bearing paired caudal rami; ornamented with 2 patches of spinules, anal slit deeply incised. Caudal rami (Fig. 5E) longer than wide, bearing principal seta and 5 smaller setae, ornamented with patch of spinules. Egg sacs elongate, multiseriate. Swimming leg armature summarized in Table 3.

Figure 5

Line drawings of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. female.

(A) Habitus, dorsal view (holotype QM W29434). (B) Antennule, ventral view (holotype QM W29434). (C) Antenna, ventral view (paratype NHMUK 2018.198). (D) Oral area showing mandible, maxillule, paragnath, maxilla, and maxilliped, in situ (holotype QM W29434). (E) Caudal rami and anal somite, ventral view (holotype QM W29434). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Table 3

Unicolax longicrus n. sp. swimming leg armature.

	Coxa	Basis	Exopod	Endopod
Female
Leg 1	0-1	1-I	I-0; IV, 6	0-1; 0-1; 5
Leg 2	0-1	1-0	I-0; I-1; III, 1, 5	0-1; 0-2; II, 3
Leg 3	0-1	1-0	I-0; I-1; II, 1, 5	0-1; 0-1; II, 2
Leg 4	0-0	1-0	I-0; I-1; II, 1, 4	0-1; 0-I; III
Male
Leg 1	0-1	1-I	I-0; I, 1, 5	0-1; 0-1; I, 5
Leg 2	0-1	1-0	I-0; I-1; II, 1, 5	0-1; 0-1; II, 3
Leg 3	0-1	1-0	I-0; 0-1; II, 1, 5	0-1; 0-1; II, 2
Leg 4	0-0	1-0	I-0; 0-1; II, 1, 4	0-1; III

Antennule (Fig. 5B) 7-segmented; first segment heavily sclerotized at base; second to fourth segments partially fused, 3 distal segments cylindrical. First segment bearing single broad, spine-like fourth seta plus 4 hirsute setae. Second segment bearing 5 hirsute setae and 5 naked setae along anterior margin, and 5 hirsute setae arrayed across ventral surface extending posteriorly. Third segment bearing 3 hirsute and 2 naked setae. Fourth segment bearing 2 hirsute plus 1 naked seta. Distal 3 segments with setal formula: 4; 2 + 1 ae; 7 + 1 ae.

Antenna (Fig. 5C) uniramous, 3-segmented, comprising elongate coxobasis bearing hirsute seta, short first endopodal segment bearing naked seta, and heavily armed compound distal segment. Distal segment ornamented with 3 irregular rows of spinules, 2 rows of spinules extending onto elongate distal process, bearing one pectinate process extending distally and enlarged teeth medially; distal armature comprising 4 claw-like setae, 2 elongate naked setae, and 1 short naked seta.

Mandible (Fig. 5D) bearing two spinulate blades of unequal length. Paragnath (Fig. 5D) tapering distally, with tooth-like spinules on posterior margin. Maxillule (Fig. 5D) consisting of irregular lobe with 3 large hirsute setae and 1 small naked seta. Maxilla (Fig. 5D) indistinctly 2-segmented; proximal segment unarmed; distal segment with 2 unequal spinulate apical processes and 1 small naked seta dorsally. Maxilliped (Fig. 5D) 3-segmented, comprising long syncoxa armed with hirsute seta; middle segment tapering distally, armed with 2 large hirsute setae on medial margin; distal segment incorporated into claw and bearing long hirsute seta; claw simple, lacking accessory process.

Leg 1 (Fig. 6A) biramous, with flattened lamellate rami; members of leg pair joined by intercoxal sclerite bearing lingulate process ornamented with patch of small spinules distally. Coxa with numerous ridge-like cuticular thickenings and inflated inner plumose seta. Basis ornamented with patch of small spinules proximally, outer plumose seta, and inner seta reduced to hooked tubercle (arrowhead in Fig. 6A). Exopod (Figs. 6A and 6B) indistinctly 2-segmented; proximal segment armed with short hirsute spine on dorsal surface; compound distal segment formed by fusion of segments 2 and 3, bearing 6 plumose setae (plumosity not figured in Figs. 6A and 6B), and 4 short hirsute spines on dorsal surface (Fig. 6B). Endopod 3-segmented; all segments flattened and expanded transversely; first segment with inner plumose seta and hair-like setules on outer margin; second segment partially fused to third, with inner plumose seta and hair-like setules on inner and outer margins; third segment armed with 5 plumose setae.

Figure 6

Line drawings of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. female.

(A) Leg 1 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (holotype QM W29434); plumosity on setae not illustrated; arrowhead indicating inner seta represented by hooked tubercle. (B) Outer spines on Leg 1 exopod, dorsal view (paratype NHMUK 2018.198). (C) Leg 2 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (paratype NHMUK 2018.198). (D) Leg 5, ventral view (holotype QM W29434). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Leg 2 (Fig. 6C) biramous; intercoxal sclerite ornamented with paired lateral fields of spinules on raised expansions. Coxa with inner plumose seta and patch of hair-like setules on outer margin. Basis with outer naked seta. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment bearing outer spine and ornamented with hair-like setules in patch on outer surface; distal segments with setal formula I-1; III, 1, 5. All spines bearing subterminal flagellum, and all but segment 1 spine with bilateral spinulation. Endopod 3-segmented; first segment with plumose inner seta and hair-like setules on outer margin; second segment with 2 plumose inner setae and hair-like setules on inner and outer margins; third segment with hair-like setules on outer margin, 3 plumose setae, and 2 spines with very fine spinulation on margins.

Leg 3 (Fig. 7A) biramous; intercoxal sclerite with rows of spinules in paired lateral fields and cuticular folds. Coxa with inner plumose seta. Basis with outer naked seta. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment with outer spine, segment ornamented with patch of spinules on outer margin and hair-like setules on inner margin; second segment with outer spine and inner seta; third segment with formula: II, 1, 5. All outer spines with bilateral spinulation and subterminal flagellum; proximal 2 spines with more robust bilateral serrations. Endopod 3-segmented; first and second segments each with plumose inner seta and hair-like setules along outer margin; third segment with 2 inner setae plus 2 spines bearing fine spinulation bilaterally, and ornamented with hair-like setules along outer margin.

Figure 7

Line drawings of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. female.

(A) Leg 3 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (holotype QM W29434). (B) Leg 4 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (holotype QM W29434). (C) Detail of leg 4 endopod distal armature, same specimen as 7B, opposite leg (holotype QM W29434).

Leg 4 (Fig. 7B) biramous, with intercoxal sclerite ornamented with spinules in paired lateral fields. Coxa lacking inner seta. Basis with naked outer seta and ornamented with patch of spinules near base of exopod. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment with outer spine bearing subterminal flagellum, segment ornamented with patch of spinules on outer margin and hair-like setules along inner margin; second segment bearing plumose seta, outer spine with flagellum, and spinules at base of spine; third segment with setal formula: II, 1, 4; all spines with flagellum; spinules present at base of proximal spine; distal spine bearing flange on outer margin. Endopod 3-segmented; all segments ornamented with row of short hair-like setules along outer margin; first segment bearing plumose seta extending to 30% of length of third segment; second segment (Figs. 7B and 7C) elongate, length:width ratio 2.5, bearing large spinules in cluster on outer distal margin and spine-like seta extending just beyond midline of distal segment; seta with marginal serrations on distal half; third segment (Figs. 7B and 7C) highly elongate, length:width ratio 3.8, bearing 3 spines along distal margin with large spinules at bases of spines; inner and outer distal spines of unequal length, outer spine as long as segment and 20% longer than inner; both ornamented with lateral serrations distally; middle spine naked, more than 2x longer than outer distal spine.

Leg 5 (Fig. 6D) 2-segmented: protopodal segment with naked outer seta and small patch of spinules on outer distal margin; exopodal segment with 4 patches of spinules and 4 setal elements; outer 2 spines each with subterminal flagellum; terminal seta and inner spine naked; inner spine approximately 30% longer than outer; terminal seta markedly longer than other elements, just longer than segment, nearly twice as long as inner spine and 2.5x longer than outer spine. Leg 6 (Fig. 5A) represented by 3 setae near oviduct opening.

Adult male.

Body (Fig. 8B) 650–770 (715 ± 46; n = 5) long, measured along midline from frontal margin of rostrum to posterior margin of caudal rami excluding caudal setae; greatest width 270–320 (291 ± 22; 5) at posterior of dorsal cephalothoracic shield. Prosome 370–460 (410 ± 34; 5) long by 270–320 (291 ± 22; 5) wide, comprising broad cephalothorax and 3 free pedigerous somites. Urosome 270–344 (306 ± 30; 5) long by 80–130 (108 ± 22; 5) wide, comprising fused fifth pedigerous somite, genital somite, and 2 abdominal somites, plus 1 free abdominal (anal) somite. Anal somite (Fig. 8D) bearing paired caudal rami; ornamented with anterior row of spinules plus 2 lateral rows of spinules posteriorly. Caudal rami longer than wide, bearing principal seta and 5 smaller setae, ventral surface ornamented with extensive patch of hair-like setules. Swimming leg armature summarized in Table 3.

Figure 8

Line drawings of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. male.

(A) Antennule, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). (B) Habitus, dorsal view (allotype QM W29436). (C) Leg 5, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). (D) Caudal rami and anal somite, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). (E) Maxilliped, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Most appendages sexually dimorphic, except antenna, mandible, paragnath, maxillule, and maxilla as in female. Antennule (Fig. 8A) 5-segmented; first segment heavily sclerotized at base; second to fourth segments partially fused, 3 distal segments cylindrical. First segment bearing 5 hirsute setae. Second segment bearing 13 hirsute setae and 2 naked setae along anterior margin, and 2 hirsute setae and 1 naked seta on posterior ventral surface; 2 long and 1 short seta present on dorsal surface. Third segment with 2 hirsute and 2 naked setae. Fourth segment bearing 1 hirsute seta, 1 naked seta, and 1 aesthetasc. Distal segment with setal formula: 7 + 1 ae; setae naked.

Maxilliped (Fig. 8E) 3-segmented, comprising long syncoxa bearing hirsute seta; middle segment tapering distally, with 1 long and 1 short hirsute setae on medial margin, ornamented with patch of blunt spinules along inner surface and row of elongate spinules along inner margin distally; distal segment incorporated into claw and bearing 1 long and 1 short naked setae; claw with 2 rows of teeth in distal half of concave margin.

Leg 1 (Fig. 9A) biramous, with flattened lamellate rami; intercoxal sclerite flattened, ornamented with row of spinules along free posterior margin. Coxa with inner plumose seta. Basis ornamented with row of spinules proximally, outer hirsute seta, and short inner seta reduced to rounded tubercle. Exopod 2-segmented; proximal segment with outer spine and hair-like setules along inner margin; spine armed with subterminal flagellum and bilateral spinulation; distal segment bearing 6 plumose setae and 1 spine with subterminal flagellum and bilateral spinulation. Endopod indistinctly 3-segmented; first segment with inner plumose seta and hair-like setules on outer margin; second segment partially fused to third, with inner plumose seta and hair-like setules on outer margins; third segment armed with 5 plumose setae and 1 spine with bilateral spinulation; terminal seta shorter than adjacent 4 setae.

Figure 9

Line drawings of Unicolax longicrus n. sp. male.

(A) Leg 1 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). (B) Leg 2 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). (C) Leg 3 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). (D) Leg 4 and intercoxal sclerite, ventral view (allotype QM W29436). Drawing credit: James P. Bernot.

Leg 2 (Fig. 9B) biramous; intercoxal sclerite ornamented with paired lateral fields of small spinules with three larger spinules on inner margin of each field. Coxa with inner plumose seta. Basis with outer seta. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment bearing outer spine and spinules in patch on outer margin; distal segments with setal formula I-1; II, 1, 5; all outer spines bearing subterminal flagellum and bilateral spinulation. Endopod 3-segmented; first and second segments each with plumose inner seta and hair-like setules on outer margin; third segment with hair-like setules on outer margin and setal formula II, 3; spines with subterminal flagellum and bilateral spinulation; terminal spine twice as long as proximal, with spinulation only on distal 25%.

Leg 3 (Fig. 9C) biramous; intercoxal sclerite ornamented with cuticular folds and paired lateral fields of spinules on raised expansions. Coxa with plumose inner seta. Basis with outer seta. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment with outer spine and patch of spinules on outer margin; second segment lacking outer spine, armed with inner seta; third segment with formula: II, 1, 5, ornamented with small patches of spinules at base of spines; all spines with bilateral spinulation and subterminal flagellum. Endopod 3-segmented; first and second segments each with plumose inner seta and hair-like setules along outer margin; third segment ornamented with hair-like setules along outer margin and 2 inner setae plus 2 spines bearing subterminal flagella and bilateral spinulation; terminal spine twice as long as proximal spine.

Leg 4 (Fig. 9D) biramous, with intercoxal sclerite ornamented with spinules in paired lateral fields on raised bases. Coxa lacking inner seta. Basis with outer seta. Exopod 3-segmented; first segment with outer spine bearing subterminal flagellum and bilateral spinulation, segment ornamented with patch of spinules on outer margin; second segment lacking outer spine but bearing plumose seta; third segment with setal formula: II, 1, 4; small patches of spinules present at bases of spines and innermost seta; all spines with subterminal flagella; first spine otherwise unornamented; terminal spine with serrated margins; terminal setal element with asymmetrical spinulation on inner and outer margins. Endopod 2-segmented; both segments ornamented with row of long hair-like setules along outer margin; first segment bearing plumose seta; second segment elongate, bearing row of spinules on posterior margin and 3 terminal elements; medial element longest; inner and medial element with bilateral spinulation; outer element shortest, with serrated margins.

Leg 5 (Fig. 8C) 2-segmented; protopodal segment with naked outer seta; exopodal segment bearing 2 terminal setal elements and patch of spinules; spinules becoming more elongate towards outer posterior margin; both setal elements with bilateral spinulation; outer element twice as long as inner. Leg 6 not seen.

There are 8 nominal species of Unicolax: U. anonymous (Vervoort, 1965) Cressey & Cressey, 1980; U. ciliatus Cressey & Cressey, 1980; U. collateralis Cressey & Cressey, 1980; U. longispinus Lin & Ho, 2006; U. mycterobius (Vervoort, 1965) Cressey & Cressey, 1980; U. quadrispinulus Lin & Ho, 2006; U. reductus Cressey & Cressey, 1980, and U. longicrus n. sp. The most recent key to Unicolax is by Lin & Ho (2006) and includes all species but U. longicrus n. sp.

The new species is distinguished from U. reductus in its lack of conspicuous dorsolateral aliform expansions of the second pedigerous somite. It further differs in having a leg 4 exopod formula of II, I, 4 rather than II, I, 3. The new species can be differentiated from U. ciliatus, U. collateralis, U. mycterobius, U. longispinus, and U. quadrispinulus by its possession of a leg 4 exopod with the setal formula II, I, 4 rather than II, I, 5. The new species resembles U. anonymous in this feature, but differs in its possession of a leg 5 that is relatively longer and less wide. The setation of the fifth leg also differs, whereas U. anonymous possesses inner and outer distal spines on leg 5 that are approximately the same length, those of the new species are relatively longer and asymmetrical (outer spine approximately 40% the length of terminal seta, inner spine approximately 50% the length of terminal seta). Unicolax longicrus n. sp. can also be differentiated from U. anonymous in its possession of a leg 4 with much more elongate endopodal segments 2 and 3. The new species further differs from U. anonymous, U. collateralis, U. reductus, and, to a lesser degree, U. ciliatus, in its possession of outer spines on the exopodal segments, particularly of legs 3 and 4, with smaller, less robust serrations on their margins.

The new species is most similar to U. quadrispinulus, the only other species of Unicolax known to parasitize a host species of the genus Sillago. Both species possess four spines on the distal exopodal segment of leg 1. The new species differs from U. quadrispinulus in a number of features. There are numerous differences in leg 4 between the new species and U. quadrispinulus: the distal exopodal segment is II, I, 4 in the new species and II, I, 5 in U. quadrispinulus; the setal element on the second endopodal segment is much shorter and more spine-like in the new species, extending only to the midline of the distal endopodal segment, while in U. quadrispinulus this element is a plumose seta that extends well beyond the end of the ramus and is more than 1.5× the length of distal segment. The new species is unusual among species of Unicolax in possessing elongate endopodal segments in leg 4: in the new species the second endopodal segment of leg 4 has a length:width ratio of 2.5 vs. 1.6 in U. quadrispinulus and the distal segment has a length:width ratio of 3.8 vs. 2.4 in U. quadrispinulus. In addition to the differences in leg 4, the lateral terminal spines of leg 5 in U. quadrispinulus are the same length, whereas in the new species the inner distal spine is 30% longer than the outer distal spine. The spinules on the antenna of the new species are also larger and less densely arrayed relative to those on U. quadrispinulus (see Lin & Ho, 2006: fig. 13B). Furthermore, the terminal spine of the distal endopodal segment of leg 3 is longer than the segment itself in U. quadrispinulus while the terminal spine of the new species is shorter than the segment and more blunt.

Unicolax host associations and biogeography

The hosts and localities of all known species of Unicolax are summarized in Table 4. The 8 species of Unicolax have collectively been reported 83 times. The genus parasitizes the nasal cavity of at least 2 orders of fish. Six of 8 known species of Unicolax parasitize fish of the order Scombriformes. Unicolax quadrispinulus and U. longricrus parasitize species of Sillago (family Sillaginidae, Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria). Three fish families are known to host Unicolax. Five species of Unicolax are known to parasitize the Scombridae, 2 the Sillaginidae, and U. longispinus the Centrolophidae.

Table 4

Unicolax species hosts and localities.

Records in bold indicate type hosts and localities.

Species	Host	Host family	Host order	Locality	Marine ecoregion	Source
U. anonymus (Vervoort, 1965) Cressey & Cressey, 1980	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Abidjan, Côte dTvoire, Gulf of Guinea	Tropical Atlantic	Vervoort (1965)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Ghana	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Gulf of Mexico	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
U. ciliatus Cressey & Cressey, 1980	Scomberomorus plurilineatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Zanzibar Channel	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Batavia, Java	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Hong Kong	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Mi-Tuo fishing port, Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Lin & Ho (2006)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Philippines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Cochin, India	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Madagascar	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Phuket, Thailand	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus commerson	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Travancore, India	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Batavia, Java	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Hong Kong	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Singapore	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Calicut, India	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Padang, Sumatra	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Phuket, Thailand	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus guttatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	China	NA	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus niphonius	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Korea	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus niphonius	Scombridae	Scombriformes	China	NA	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus semifasciatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	New Guinea	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus tritor	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Ghana	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus tritor	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Lagos, Nigeria	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Scomberomorus tritor	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Liberia	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
U. collateralis  Cressey & Cressey, 1980	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Saint George Bay, Lebanon	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Hong Kong	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Philippines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Hawaii	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Saint George Bay, Lebanon	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Woods Hole, Massachusetts	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Chusan, China	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Ghardaqa, Egypt	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Cybiosarda elegans	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Brisbane, Australia	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Caribbean 9°11′N, 77°50′W	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Brazil	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Southeastern Iberia	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Mele et al. (2016)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Saint George Bay, Lebanon	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus lineatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Galapagos	Tropical Eastern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus lineatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Lower California	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus lineatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Mexico (Pacific)	Tropical Eastern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus lineatus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Costa Rica (Pacific)	Tropical Eastern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Brisbane, Australia	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Formosa	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Gulf of Thailand	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Hong Kong	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Java	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Palau	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Phillipines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Okinawa	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Tokyo	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Arabian Sea	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Madagascar	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Mozambique	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Seychelles	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Elat, Israel	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Orcynopsis unicolor	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Saint George Bay, Lebanon	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Sarda australis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	New South Wales, Australia	Temperate Australasia	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Sarda orientalis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Durban, South Africa	Temperate Southern Africa	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Sarda orientalis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Pearl Island, Panama	Tropical Eastern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
U. longicrus n. sp.	Sillgao maculata	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 27°26′S, 153°24′E	Central Indo Pacific	Present study
	Sillago ciliata	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia 27°22′S, 153°13′E	Central Indo Pacific	Present study
U. longispinus Lin & Ho, 2006	Psenopsis anomala	Centrolophidae	Scombriformes	Hsing-Dah fishing port, Taiwan (Kaohsiung County)	Central Indo Pacific	Lin & Ho (2006)
	Psenopsis anomala	Centrolophidae	Scombriformes	Dong-Shih fishing port, Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Lin & Ho (2006)
U. mycterobius (Vervoort, 1965) Cressey & Cressey, 1980	Auxis thazard	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Gulf of Guinea, off Abidjan, Côte dTvoire	Tropical Atlantic	Vervoort (1965)
	Auxis rochei	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Strait of Gibraltar	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Mele et al. (2015)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Formosa	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Luzon, Phillipines	Central Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Hawaii	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	New South Wales, Australia	Temperate Australasia	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Massachusetts	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Tokyo	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Auxis sp.	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Ghardaqa, Egypt	Western Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Saint George Bay, Lebanon	Temperate Northern Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus alletteratus	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Pensacola, Florida	Tropical Atlantic	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Kagoshima, Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Euthynnus affinis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Tokyo	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
U. quadrispinulus  Lin & Ho, 2006	Sillago sihama	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Hsing-Dah fishing port, Taiwan (Kaohsiung County)	Central Indo Pacific	Lin & Ho (2006)
	Sillago sihama	Sillaginidae	Order incertae sedis in Eupercaria	Dong-Shih fishing port, Taiwan	Central Indo Pacific	Lin & Ho (2006)
U. reductus Cressey & Cressey, 1980	Katsuwonus pelamis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	New South Wales	Temperate Australasia	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Katsuwonus pelamis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Tahiti	Eastern Indo Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)
	Katsuwonus pelamis	Scombridae	Scombriformes	Japan	Temperate Northern Pacific	Cressey & Cressey (1980)

Species of Unicolax are known from 9 of the 12 marine realms established by Spalding et al. (2007). Of the 83 reports of Unicolax reviewed, 26 (31%) come from the Central Indo-Pacific realm, followed by 15 (18%) from the Western Indo-Pacific, 10 each (12%) in the Temperate Northern Pacific and Tropical Atlantic, and 9 or fewer in the following 5 realms: Temperate Northern Atlantic (n = 9; 11%), Tropical Eastern Pacific (n = 4; 5%), Eastern Indo-Pacific (n = 3; 4%), Temperate Australasia (n = 3; 4%), and Temperate Southern Africa (n = 1; 1%) . There are currently no reports of Unicolax from the Arctic, Temperate South America, or Southern Ocean realms. Two reports of U. ciliatus by Cressey & Cressey (1980) could not be assigned to a realm. The locality was given only as “China” (Cressey & Cressey, 1980 pg. 15), and given that the coast of China spans the Central Indo-Pacific and Temperate Northern Pacific realms, a biogeographic realm could not be unambiguously assigned to these records.

Discussion

Current reports suggest Nothobomolochus has a predominately tropical distribution, with 86 reports from tropical ecoregions and 24 reports from temperate regions. The west coast of North America and the east and west coasts of South America remain largely unexplored for species of Nothobomolochus. Given the diversity of potential hosts there, we suspect many new species remain to be described from beloniform, scombriform, and clupeiform fishes in these waters.

Of the 39 species of Nothobomolochus, 25 have been reported a single time, only from the host from which they were described. By far the most widely reported species of Nothobomolochus is N. gibber, which has been reported 28 times from beloniform fish of the families Belonidae and Hemiramphidae. The global distribution of this species, ranging from the Mediterranean Sea to Ascension Island in the Atlantic and a variety of localities spanning the Indian and Pacific Oceans calls into question whether these specimens are, in fact, conspecific. Because of the limited nature of host reports for species of Nothobomolochus, few negative host data available, and questionable conspecificity of specimens reported from a variety of hosts and geographic regions, a precise measure of the host specificity of the genus remains elusive.

Most reports of Unicolax come from host species of the family Scombridae. The report of U. longispinus from Psenopsis anomala (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) (Centrolophidae), the first species reported from a non-scombrid host, is not particularly surprising given that the Centrolophidae are closely related to the Scombridae, an affinity supported by mulitlocus phylogenetic analyses (Betancur et al., 2017). Both families, in fact, are now recognized as members of the order Scombriformes (Betancur et al., 2017). However, the discovery of U. quadrispinulus and U. longicrus parasitizing species of Sillago is unexpected given the distant phylogenetic relationship of these hosts with the Scombridae (see Betancur et al., 2017 fig. 2). This suggests that, not only are other scombrids and related families (i.e., Amarsipidae, Ariommatidae, Arripidae, Bramidae, Caristiidae, Chiasmodontidae, Gempylidae, Icosteidae, Nomeidae, Pomatomidae, Scombropidae, Scombrolabracidae, Stromateidae, Tetragonuridae, and Trichiuridae) candidate hosts of Unicolax, but also that much of the Eupercaria, the largest series of fishes, containing over 6,000 species in 161 families and at least 17 orders, are potential hosts.

The fact that most known hosts of Unicolax are widely harvested, economically important fish species is likely a reflection of sampling bias rather than true host distribution. Both the inaccessible microhabitat (i.e., the nasal sinuses) parasitized by these copepods and their small size (0.6–3 mm) has contributed to the slow discovery of species of Unicolax. Given the phylogenetic diversity of fish species hosting members of Unicolax, we predict that careful observation of the nasal sinuses of marine fish will reveal numerous additional scombriform and eupercarian fish host species of Unicolax, many of which are likely new to science. It is likely that diversity of this genus is substantially higher than current records suggest, and this also likely applies to other copepod genera that predominately inhabit fish nostrils.

Five genera of bomolochids are known to live almost exclusively in the nostrils of teleosts: Acanthocolax Vervoort, 1969, Ceratocolax Vervoort, 1965, Naricolax Ho, Do & Kasahara, 1983, Tegobomolochus Izawa, 1976, and Unicolax. These genera share a number of morphological similarities and are thought to be closely related (Huys et al., 2012). It is interesting to consider the potential functional significance of shared morphological features in this group. For instance, the second leg of Ceratocolax, Naricolax, Unicolax, and Tegobomolochus have flattened endopods, and Huys et al. (2012) proposed this modification may help seal the suction cup formed by the ventral cephalothorax, a process documented in other parasitic copepods (e.g., leg 3 of Caligidae by Kabata & Hewitt (1971)). Similarly, males of Naricolax, Unicolax, and Tegobomolochus possess a flattened leg 1, which may assist in sealing the cephalothoracic suction cup.

Other structures have arisen in a number of nostril inhabiting copepods. A pincer-like structure arising from projections of anterior cephalothorax and dorsal projections of the antennae is present in Acanthocolax, Ceratocolax, and Tegobomolochus (Huys et al., 2012). There may be some evidence of this, albeit to a lesser degree, in species of Unicolax. Vervoort (1965) shows U. anonymous to have a protrusion at the anterior margin of the cephalothorax (fig. 1) and Cressey & Cressey (1980) illustrated a similar protrusion in U. collateralis (see fig. 9A). Perhaps a pincer-like structure is formed between this anterior protrusion of the cephalothorax and the modified spine-like seta of the antennule of these species, which may provide a functional explanation for the heavily sclerotized fourth seta of the antennule in Unicolax. It would be interesting to explore if these pincer-like structures are used for attachment in the nostril, perhaps to the lamellae of the olfactory rosette. A number of nostril inhabiting copepods have also developed dorsal extensions on their body somites (e.g., Ceratocolax, Tegobomolochus, U. anonymous [see Vervoort, 1965 fig. 1], and U. reductus [Cressey & Cressey, 1980 fig. 23a]). Given that dorsal extensions appear to have arisen multiple times in nostril-inhabiting copepods, it is possible that they have functional significance; for instance, they may reduce shearing forces on the copepods or enable them to wedge themselves in small cavities of the nasal passage.

There is considerable variation in the ornamentation on Unicolax appendages. In particular, ornamentation on the margins of spines on legs 2–4 varies from relatively few, robust serrations in U. anonymous, U. collateralis, and U. reductus, to numerous fine serrations along the margins of the spines in U. ciliatus, U. longicrus, U. longispinus, U. mycterobius, and U. quadrispinulus. The inner seta on leg 4 also varies from a typical plumose seta, as seen in U. quadrispinulus, to a more spine-like element in most other species of Unicolax; this element is highly reduced to a short spine-like element in U. reductus. We recommend researchers pay careful attention to the ornamentation of setal elements in species of Unicolax, as these are likely to be useful taxonomic characters.

Click here for additional data file.

Click here for additional data file.

Family Bomolochidae Claus, 1875

Genus NothobomolochusVervoort, 1962

Nothobomolochus johndaveorum n. sp.

(Figs. 1–4).

Genus UnicolaxCressey & Cressey, 1980

Unicolax longicrus n. sp.

(Figs. 5–9).