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A new parasitic isopod of the family Cymothoidae from clupeid fishes of Lake Tanganyika—a further Lake Tanganyika enigma
Author(s) -
Fryer Geoffrey
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1968.tb08577.x
Subject(s) - biology , isopoda , fauna , ecology , hermaphrodite , fishery , zoology , crustacean
A new cymothoid isopod which parasitizes clupeid fishes in Lake Tanganyika is described. That this species is a protandrous hermaphrodite is demonstrated. There are also indications that transformation from the male to the female phase may occur at different stages of development in different individuals. Two isopods with distinctly marine affinities are now known from Lake Tanganyika but it is not certain that they are derived from a common ancestor. The marine‐like facies of the Lake Tanganyika fauna is therefore enhanced but, although no proven explanation of the facts of distribution can be given, Moore's theory that the lake is a remnant of an ancient sea is not revived.