A New Species of Neoalbionella (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Lernaeopodidae) From Skin of the Gulper Shark, Centrophorus granulosus (Squaliformes: Centrophoridae) In the Northern Gulf of Mexico

ABSTRACT Using light and scanning electron microscopy of male and female copepods, we herein describe a new species of Neoalbionella Ozdikmen, 2008 (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), Neoalbionella benzipirata n. sp., infecting the skin of the gulper shark, Centrophorus granulosus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Females of the new species were assigned to Neoalbionella by having 3 setae on the maxillule lateral palp (vs. 2 setae in Lernaeopoda Nordmann, 1832) and a single accessory denticle on the maxilliped subchela claw (vs. ≥2 denticles in Lernaeopoda). Females of the new species resemble those of Neoalbionella longicaudata (Hansen, 1923) Ozdikmen, 2008 but can be differentiated from them and those of all congeners by having a unique configuration of 16 dorsocephalic sensilla; an antennule terminal segment having 6 apical setae comprising tubercles 1 and 3, digitiform seta 4, 2 subequal setae of complex 5, and flagelliform seta 6; an antenna exopod with a thickened dorsal ridge, sm...