THE BIOLOGY OF CYMOTHOIDS (CRUSTACEA, ISOPODA, CYMOTHOIDAE) IN INDIA - A REVIEW

Abstract

Cymothoid isopods (Crustacea) are ectoparasitic on marine, brackish and freshwater fish. They were revealed in several earliest references on natural history. Despite these early studies, cymothoids are still poorly known or completely unknown in many parts of the world. There are more than 40 genera containing more than 350 species in the world. Likewise, Indian cymothoids has a long history, going back to a first record in 1783, but cymothoid studies are still scanty. In India a total of 12 genera including 36 valid species are listed from 74 host species of 34 families. The host specificity and host&#8211 parasite relationships including the site of infection of isopods on their respective hosts are discussed. Parasitological indexes are calculated. In our studies, the maximum number of species recorded from infected body sites were: from the body surface (17), followed by the branchial chamber (12) and the buccal cavity (7). Some buccal or branchial isopods have often been reported moving out of their normal localization, particularly after the host capture. In India, the main infected host group are the Clupeiformes including the families Chirocentridae, Engraulidae, Pristigasteridae and Clupeidae. In particular, the Clupeidae have been recorded with 21 species of cymothoid parasites. Many host families need to be studied to reveal the infection and to standardize the localization ofunknown in many parts of the world. There are more than 40 genera containing more than 350 species in the world. Likewise, Indian cymothoids has a long history, going back to a first record in 1783, but cymothoid studies are still scanty. In India a total of 12 genera including 36 valid species are listed from 74 host species of 34 families. The host specificity and host&#8211 parasite relationships including the site of infection of isopods on their respective hosts are discussed. Parasitological indexes are calculated. In our studies, the maximum number of species recorded from infected body sites were: from the body surface (17), followed by the branchial chamber (12) and the buccal cavity (7). Some buccal or branchial isopods have often been reported moving out of their normal localization, particularly after the host capture. In India, the main infected host group are the Clupeiformes including the families Chirocentridae, Engraulidae, Pristigasteridae and Clupeidae. In particular, the Clupeidae have been recorded with 21 species of cymothoid parasites. Many host families need to be studied to reveal the infection and to standardize the localization of