Mothocya plagulophora (Haller, 1880)

Rajendra, S., Nashad, M., Nigam, Naveen Kumar, Raghunathan, C. & Mohamed Hatha, A. A., 2025, New distributional records of the isopod parasite, Mothocya (Isopoda: Cymothoidae), from Andaman Islands, India, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 125 (1), pp. 33-39 : 35-36

2. Mothocya plagulophora (Haller, 1880) ( Fig. 3 c-f)

Material examined: One ovigerous female ( ZSI / ANRC /M/24065) (TL 28.5 mm; W 12.5 mm), Durgapur (13.274033N; 93.044633E), Diglipur, North Andaman Islands collected from Fistularia commersonii Rüppel , 30 th April 2018 .

One ovigerous female 9 ( ZSI / ANRC /M/25421) (TL

33.7mm; 12.83mm W), Junglighat (11.65922N;

92.72515E), Port Blair , South Andaman collected from Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775) , 18 th April 2019 .

Description: The body is almost straight with a smooth dorsal surface, 2.3-2.45 times the length of its greatest seven articles antennae with 8 articles, and terminal article with 2 to 3 simple setae. Lateral lobe and a medial lobe of the maxilla with two robust recurved setae. The maxillula has 4 terminal setae. Article 3 is a maxilliped with six recurved setae. Uropods are 0.38-0.42 times the length of the pleotelson, with the rami not extending beyond it. The exopod is 1.4 times longer than the endopod, extending beyond it. Endopods are slightly pointed apically, 4.2 times longer than their maximum width, and both lack setae. Pereopod 1 has an ischium that is 0.78-0.8 times the length of the basis, a carpus that is 0.5-0.55 times the length of the merus, a propodus 1.28-1.32 times as long as wide, and a dactylus that is 0.85-0.9 times the length of the propodus. Pereopod 7 has a slightly wider basis than pereopod 1, with an ischium 0.7 times the length of the basis. The carpus is 1.25-1.3 times the length of the ischium, the propodus is 0.63-0.68 times the length of the ischium, and the dactylus is 1.2 times the length of the propodus.

width, and is widest at pereonites 4 and 5. The cephalon is visible dorsally and is 0.65-0.7 times longer compared to it is wide. The eyes are prominent, with an eye diameter of 0.18-0.22 times with width of the cephalon and a length of 0.28-0.32 times times the cephalon width. The anterior margin of pereonite 1 is indented, and the anterior lateral margin extends up to the inferior border of the eye. The First three pereonites’ length and width increased respectively, and for pereonites 5-7 it decreased. Pereonites 4-7 have rounded coxae that do not lengthen beyond the respective pereonite edges. The First pleonite is mostly concealed by pereonite 7, pleonite 2 is partially concealed by pereonite 7, and pleonite 5 is the widest. Pleotelson is large with a roughly rounded posterior margin, and lateral margins convex, measuring 0.6-0.78 times the length of the anterior width. Antennula with

Figures

Fig. 3. (a,b) Mothocya collettei (Bruce, 1986) recovered from Tylosurus choram (Rüppell, 1837); (c,d) Mothocya plagulophora (Haller, 1880) recovered from Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1838; (e,f) Mothocya plagulophora (Haller, 1880) recovered from Hemiramphus far (Forsskål, 1775) (Scale 5mm)