Infestation of Isopod Parasites Renocila bijui (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) in Two New Host Fish Species from Andaman

Abstract

The present study reports the parasitism of cymothoid isopod Renocila bijui Aneesh & Bruce, 2020 from two host fish species, Chrysiptera unimaculata (Cuvier, 1830) and Acanthurus xanthopterus Valenciennes, 1835; for the first time. It was also observed and collected from its originally described host species, A. triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758) during the study period, confirming its host-specificity to the acanthurid fish group. The observation of R. bijui from C. unimaculata, a pomacentrid fish, indicates its preference for another coral-reef associated fish species as host. Further studies may give more insight into the distribution and behaviour of this isopod species in Indian waters.