Caligus confusus Pillai, 1961

Dippenaar, Susan M. & Sebone, Makwena M., 2025, Caligus (Caligidae: Siphonostomatoida) species off southern Africa with the description of C. pillaii sp. nov., Zootaxa 5686 (2), pp. 151-197 : 160-161

Caligus confusus Pillai, 1961

( Figs 7A–F )

Hosts: Caranx ignobilis (Forsskål) ; Seriola lalandi Valenciennes ( Carangidae : Carangiformes)

Locality: Off east coast South Africa (Indian Ocean)— C. ignobilis , S. lalandi ; off west coast South Africa (Atlantic Ocean)— S. lalandi

Material examined: 3♀ + 3♂

Material collected: 6♀ + 5♂ from C. ignobilis ; and 2♀ from S. lalandi

Voucher material: 1♀ + 1♂ ( SAMC-A099200 ) from C. ignobilis deposited in the Iziko South African Museum , Cape Town, South Africa .

Adult female ( Fig. 7A ) with short abdomen longer than wide; genital complex about 5x longer; antenna basal segment with flattened membranous flange (arrowed) ( Fig. 7B ); post-antennal process bifid, primary tine (arrowed) with marginal flange ( Fig. 7C ); maxillule with dentiform posterior process trifid (arrowed), main tine with marginal flange ( Fig. 7D ); sternal furca tines tapering, pointed ( Fig. 7E ); leg 4 3-segmented with I, I, III spines (arrowed) respectively ( Fig. 7F ) (cf. Ho & Lin 2004; Boxshall 2018).

Remarks: Both host reports constitute new hosts records from southern African waters with S. lalandi an overall new host record for C. confusus .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Caligus confusus Pillai adult female: A. adult female and male, dorsal view; B. membranous flange proximal on antenna (arrowed); C. post-antennal process (arrow = primary tine with marginal flange); D. maxillule posterior process (tines arrowed); E. sternal furca; F. leg 4 exopod (arrows = I, I, III spines respectively).