COPEPODA (POECILOSTOMATOIDA, LICHOMOLGIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH ALCYONACEAN GENUS SARCOPHYTON IN THE INDO-PACIFIC

Abstract

Thirteen species of Iichomolgid copepods are reported from ten species of the soft coral Sarcoph;?ton in Madagascar, New Caledonia, and the Moluccas. These copepods include Perosyna indonesica n. gen., n. sp., eight new species belonging to the genus Anisomolgus, one new species in the genus Paradoridicola, and new records of Anisomolgus protentus, Anisomolgus incisus, and Paramolgus spathophorus. Two copepods, Anisomolgus protentus and Amsomolgus sarcophytious, occur on various species of Sarcophyton in all three widely separated geographical areas of collection. Seven of the 13 species occur with a single species of Sarcophyton, while the remaining six copepods live with 2-4 species of hosts. Sarcophyton glaucum harbors the greatest number of species of copepods, seven in all.