parasitic copepods in the collections of the national museum of ireland

Parasitic Copepods in the Collections of the National Museum of IrelandAuthor(s): C. E. O'RiordanSource: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section B: Biological, Geological, andChemical Science, Vol. 64 (1964 - 1966), pp. 371-378Published by: Royal Irish AcademyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20494896 .

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[ 371 ]

20.

PARASIT1ZIC COPEPODS IN THE COLLECTIONS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

By C. E. O'RIORDAN

Communicated by A. 1. Lucas, M.R.I.A.

[Received, 17 JUNE. Read, 13 DECEMBER, 1965. Published, 7 MARCH, 1966.]

ABS1RACT

'IWENTY-SIX species of parasitic copepods fromii Irish waters in the collectionis of the National Museuin of Ireland and, where possible, their hosts are listed. Six of these species have not previously been recorded for Irish coastal waters viz. Caligus zei Norman and T. Scott, Lepeophtheirus hippoglossi (Kroyer), Philorthagoriscus serratus (Kr0yer), Pandarus bicolor Leach, Acanthochondria flurae Kroyer and Chondracanthus zei de la Roche.

INTRODUCTION

An examination of the literature on Irish Copepoda reveals that the majority of Irish workers have devoted their attention to the free-swimming

forms. The Irish parasitic forms have been described or recorded by Baird

(1849), Thompson (1856), Pearson (1905), Scott (1913), Williams (1954), Gotto (1955) and A. Scott (1963).

As a considerable numnber of unidentified and unrecorded specinmens are

included in the collections of the National Museum of Ireland, it was

considered that identification and publication would be desirable. A list

with observations is given below.

A number of specimens were taken on fishes captured during the Royal

Irish Academy expeditions of 1885 and 1886 and the Royal Dublii Society expedition of 1890G-91. Narratives of the Royal Irish Academy expeditions

are given by Haddon (1886) and Haddon and Green (1887). Some of the

fishes captured during the expedition of 1886 are listed by Scharif (1890). The narrative, marine stations and results of the Royal Dublin Society expedition are given by Holt (1891).

Class COPEPODA Order EUCOPEPODA

Sub-order CALIGOIDA

Family CALIGIDAE

Caligus rapax Milne Edwards

A male from a coalfish, Gadus virens L., taken off Slyne Head (Station 80) by the Royal Dublin Society expedition of 1890-91. This is a conmmon species

and is frequently found parasitic on Various fishes, especially gadoids. It is

not uncommon in plankton collections.

PROC. R.I.A^, VOL. 64, SECT. B. [KK]



372 Procecdings of the Royal Irish Academy.

Caligus curtus 0. F. Muller

Two males taken from a cod and skate from Dublin Bay by W. F. de V.

Kane in 1892. A total of twenty-four males and seven femnales were among

a collection of parasitic copepods from cod, skate, hake, turbot, grey gurnard,

ling and blenny taken at Bantry Bay during 1893-4. Three males and five

females taken during the Royal Dublin Society expedition off the west coast

of Ireland and two females from a cod in Dingle Bay (Station 7). This species

has been previously recorded from Belfast Lough on Raja (Baird; Thompson;

Pearson), Lough Neagh on pollan (Baird; Pearson) and Ardglass, Co. Down, on cod and whiting (Williams). This species is parasitic on various kinds of

fishes-particularly gadoids.

Caligus zei Norman and T. Scott

Two females from Long Island Sound, W. Cork, were taken during the

Royal Irish Academy expedition of 1886; host unspecified. A total of six

males and forty-nine females were among a collection of parasitic copepods

from cod, hake, skate, black pollack (coalfish), turbot, grey gurnard, ling and

blenny taken in Bantry Bay in 1893. This parasite is usually recorded from

Zeus faber, the john dory, and it is unfortunate that it is not known for

certain from what host these specimens were taken. The writer is unable to

trace any previous record of this species from Irish waters.

Lepeophtheirus pectoralis (0. F. Muller)

Six females were taken off the south-west coast of Ireland by the Royal

Irish Academy expedition of 1885, and one of these is known to have been

taken from the pectoral fins of plaice. There is no record, however, of a

plaice having been taken during this expedition, but the capture of such a

common species may not have been considered worth mentioning.

L. pectoralis has been previously recorded from Belfast Lough on Pleuro

nectidae, Scomber and Conger (Baird; Thompson; Pearson). Scott, however, has recorded it from the Irish Sea, but as he worked at Liverpool and at

Port Erin, Isle of Man, it may, conceivably, have come from the vicinity of

either of these places. It is generally found adhering to the underside of the

pectoral fins of flat fishes such as plaice and dabs.

Lepeophtheirus nordmanni Milne-Edwards

A total of one male and twenty-oine females fromi a sunfish (Mola mola L.) off Achill Island presented by A. G. More, and four females taken from a

sunfish fromn Bantry Bay in 1892. This species had been previously recorded

from Co. Antrim on a sunfish (Baird; Thompson; Pearson; Williams). Hillis

and C'Riordan (1960) record the taking of about a hundred males and thirty

females from a juvenile sunfish takern off Co. Donegal. L. nordmanni is

usually found parasitic on sunfish.



O'RIORDAN-Parasitic Copepods in the National Museum of Ireland 373

Lepeophtheirus hippoglassi (Kr0yer) One male and eighteen females from a halibut taken off the Bills, Co.

Galway (Station 78) by the Royal Dublin Society expedition in 1890. This

species is usually found parasitic on the backs of large halibut. The writer has

been unable to trace any other record of this species from Irish waters.

Lepeophtheirus thompsoni Baird One female taken at Dunbeacon Harbour in Dunmanus Bay, probably

in June 1892; host unspecified. There are previous records from the north

of Ireland (Baird; Pearson). It is generally taken from the gills of turbot

and brill.

Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kroyer)

One female from Salmo trutta L., Ireland, July 1863, and seven males

and one female from the same species of host off Cleggan in 1903. The

parasites from Cleggan were transferred to the Museum from the Fisheries

Branch, Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. This species

is generally parasitic on salmon and trout, and has been recorded from both

these hosts from Dundrum Bay, Co. Down (Thompson; Pearson), Donaghadee, Co. Down (Baird; Thompson; Pearson), River Bush, Co. Antrim (Baird;

Thompson), Cushendall, Co. Antrim (Baird; Pearson) and the Irish Sea,

locality unspecified (Scott). It is reputed not to live long after its host has

entered fresh water.

Trebius caudatus Kroyer

One male and two females from a skate taken in Dublin flay and

presented by W. F. de V. Kane in 1892. A total of three males and eight

females were among other parasitic copepods taken from skate, cod, hake,

and coalfish from Bantry Bay in 1893. These were, most likely, taken from

the skate. T'his species, usually parasitic on skate, ray and dogfish, was

recorded on Raja b,atis L. from Belfast Lough (Baird; Thompson; Pearson;

Scott) and on Raja clavata L. at Strangford Lough (Williams).

Dinematura producta 0. F. Muller

One male and eight females from a sunfish (Mola mola L.) taken during the Royal Dublin Society expedition of 1890-91. As the only sunfish recorded

during this survey is that shot by the Rev. W. Spotswood Green at Station 37B

(off Achill Head), it can only be concluded that the parasites were taken from

this particular specinmen. Two males and two females taken from a porbeagle

shark (Lamna cornubica (Gmelin)) caught off Cleggan, Co. Galway, in 1903

were transferred from the Fisheries Branch, Department of Agriculture and

Technical Instruction, to the National Museum. There are a further three

females from Irish waters in the collections, but the locality and date are

unspecified. Scott (1963) records twelve specimens from a basking shark,

Cetorhinus maximus (Gunner), stranded at Holywood, Co. Down. D. producta

is usually parasitic on sharks,



374 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy.

Echthrogalcus colcoptratus (G'uerin)

One female from Dunbeacon Harbour, Dunmanus Bay, Co. Cork; host

unspecified; date probably June, 1892. This species has been recorded, also,

from Dundrum Bay, Go. Down (Williams) on Acanthias vulgaris Day, now

known as Squalus acanthias L. It is usually parasitic on sharks.

Pandarus bicolor Leach

One female taken during the Royal Dublin Society expedition off the southwest coast of Ireland; host unspecified. Two females taken by W. F.

de V. Kane from the skin of tope (Eugaleus galeus (L.)) taken 30 miles off

Valentia Island. This species has not, to the writer's knowledge, been

recorded for Irish coastal waters. Sharks anid dogfishes are the usual hosts.

Cecrops latreillei Leach

Three males and eight females from a sunfish (Mola mola L.) caught off

Achill Island were presented to the National Museum by A. G. More..

A further five females were presented by Capt. T. C. F. M'Conbie in 1893

and may have come from a Pristiurus taken off the southwest coast of Ireland. T hree males and four femnales were taken from a sunfish shot off Achill Head

(Station 37B) by the Rev. W. Spotswood Green, during the- Royal Dublin

Society expedition of 1890. A further thirteen males and sixteen females are

present in the collection but no data about them are available. Seven females

of C. latreillei have males attached to their genital segments. This species

has been recorded as gill parasites on the sunfish from the Antrim and Dublin

coasts and from Kinsale (Baird; Thompson; Pearson; Scott) and from the

south of Ireland (Thompson; Pearson). Hillis and O'Riordan (1960) recorded

two males and eight females parasitic on the gills of a juvenile sunfish from

Co. Donegal.

Philorthagoriscus serratus (Kroyer)

Sixteen females from a sunfish (Mola mola L.) taken off Achill Island

were presented by A. G. More. Eleven/males and three females were obtained

from a sunfish taken at Bantry Bay in 1892. The writer is not aware of any

previous Irish record of this species. Elsewhere it has been recorded from the

sunfish.

Family DICHEI ESTIIDAE

Dichelestium oblongum (Abildgaard)

Two females parasitic on a sturgeon (Acipenser sturio L.) from the west

coast of Ireland were presented by Dr. R. F. Scharif. It has been recorded

for the south of Ireland (Thompson; Pearson). Scott states that the parasite

seems to be peculiar to the sturgeon and to have a distribution coincident

with that of the fish.



O'RIORDAN-Parasitic Copepods in the National Museum of Ireland 375.

Sub-order LERNAEOiDA

Family LERNAEIDAE

Lernaeocera branchialis (L.)

One female from Dunbeacon Harbour, Dunmanus Bay, Co. Cork; host

unspecified; date probably June 1892. Two females from cod and haddock

were taken in Dublin Bay and presented by W. F. de V. Kane. It has been

recorded on gills of cod from Dublin Bay and Belfast Lough (Baird; Tshompson;

Pearson; Scott). The adult females are not uncommon as gill parasites on

members of the gadoid famnily.

Lernaeenwcus sprattae (Sowerby)

Four females attached to the eye of sprat and one female from the body

of another sprat from the Ordnance Survey Collection. These were probably taken off the northern coast of Ireland. One female attached to the eye of

sprat from Ringsend, Dublin Bay. This species is not uncommon, and is

recorded from Youghal (Thompson; Pearson; Scott). It is usually found

attached to the eyes of sprat, but may also be found attached to the body.

Lernacenicus encrasicola, (1 Turton)

One female taken, from the body of sprat fromn the Ordrnance Survey

Collection. This was probably taken off the northern coast of Irelanid. 'l'his

species has been recorded also from Youghal (Baird; Pearson; Scott). It

generally parasitizes anchovy and sprat.

Family CHONDRACANTHIDAF

Acanthochondria flurae Kroyer

(Chondraccanthus flurae Kroyer)

A female was taken by the Royal Irish Academy expedition of 1886, in

Long Island Sound, West Cork; host unspecified. The writer can trace no

previous Irish record. It is usually taken from the gills of Hip poglossoide?s

platessoides (Fabr.).

Chondracanthus zei de la Roche

Nine females were taken from the gill filaments of Zeus faber L., the

john dory, taken in Long Island Sound by the Royal Irish Academy

expedition of 1886. Another female was taken in simiiilar circumstances at

Station 79 (Davalaun, Co. Galway) by the Royal Dublin Society expedition in 1890. C. zei has not, to the writer's knowledge, been recorded from

Ireland. It occurs on the gills of the john dory.




Chondracanthus lophii Johnston

Three females were taken trom the gill pouches of Lophius piscatorius L. by W. F. de V. Kane and presented to the National Museum. They may have

been taken in Dublin Bay. Two damaged specimens from the west coast of

Ireland with no other data. This species has been recorded from Belfast

Lough (Baird; Thompson; Pearson), Dublin (Baird; Pearson), and Strangford

Lough (Williams). This species is usually parasitic on the inner surface of

the gill pouches of Lophius piscatorius.

Chondracanthus merluccii (Holten),

Forty-nine females from Bantry Bay, most of which are recorded from

inside the mouths of hake, were acquired by the National Museum in 1892

and 1893. There are a further five females from Dunbeacon Harbour,

Dunmanus Bay; host unspecified but assumed to be hake. Another female

is without date or location. The absence of males is undoubtedly due to the

fact that they were overlooked on account of their small size. This species

has been recorded from Dundrum Bay by Williams.

Family LERNAEOPODIDAE

Salmincola salmonea (L.)

Six females were taken from an Irish salmon by G. J. McWeeney in 1893

and presented to the National Museum of Ireland. In 1942 Dr. Went,

Fisheries Division, Department of Lands2 identified seven females from the

gill filaments of a salmon taken from the River Blackwater, a tributary of

the Boyne, Co. Meath. It has been recorded from the north of Ireland

(Thompson; Pearson; Scott). S. salmonea is a gill parasite of salmon.

Lernaeopoda galei Kroyer

A female was taken from the claspers of Scyllium, locality unspecified, and

presented by H. W. Jacob in July 1885. Another female was taken from the

ventral fin of tope caught off Valentia and presented by W. F. de V. Kane.

This specimen imay well be one of those referred to by Kane (1892).

L. galei has also been recorded from Belfast Lough (Baird; Thompson;

Pearson).

Lernaeopoda bidiscalis W. F. de V. Kane

Two females from the claspers of tope taken off Valentia. These specimens

may well be those referred to by Kane (1892).



O'RIORDAN-Parasitie Copepods in the NAtZonal Museum of Ireland 377

Clavella uncinata (0. F. Muller)

Two females from a cod taken in Dublin Bay and presented by W. F.

de V. Kane in 1892. This species has been recorded from Larne, Holywood

and Dublin on cod and whiting (Baird; Thompson; Pearson).

DiscusSION

This paper lists twenty-six species of parasitic copepods frormi Irish waters

in the collections of the National Museum of Ireland. The list does not, of

course, purport to be an exhaustive enumeration of all the species recorded

to date in Irish contexts. The specimens presented to the Museum by Kane

and More had been identified by them; the remainder, with the exception

of the Salmincola identified by Went, have bee-n identified by the writer, although this does not preclude the possibility that some have been obscurely

published before. Of the twenty-six species listed there appears to be no previous record

of Caligus zei, Lepeophtheirus hippoglossi and Philorthagoriscus serratus from the Irish Sea. Scott's records of Pandesrus bicolor, Acanthochondria flurae and

Chondracanthus zei from the Irish Sea refer, in all likelihood, to English coastal waters. In fact, Bruce, Colman and Jones (1963) cite Scott's Isle of

Man records, i.e. both P. bicolor and A. flurae are recorded "from between

Lancashire and the Isle of Man". C. zei is presurned to have been taken near

Livexpool. The Museum specimens of these three species constitute new

Irish records. Accordingly, a total of six species new to Irish waters is represented in the Museum collection.

It would appear that the sunfish, Mola mola L. proves an attractive host

to a number of species, viz. Lepeophtheirus nordmanni, Dinematura producta, Cecrops latreillei and Philorthagoriscus serratus. The absence of Ortha

goriscola muricata (Kr0yer)- in the collections is surprising, particularly in

view of its occurrence in British waters. There is no record of it from Irish

waters, however. Wright (1870) described specimens of Pennella orthagorisci found on Mola mola L. from Cork Harbour in 1869. These are not represented in the National Museum of Ireland.

Although the host species occur in Irish waters, no specimens of at least

forty species of copepod fish parasites known from British waters have, as yet,

been recorded from Ireland. This fact indicates the necessity for further

research in this field.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sincere thanks are due to Dr. J., P. Hardinig of the British Museunm

(Natural History) who so kindly identified the two specimnenis of Dichelestium

oblongum and a male of Philorthagoriscus serratus. I also wish to thank

Dr. A. T. Lucas, Director, National Museum of Ireland, and Dr. J. S.

Jackson, Keeper of Natural History, for their kind advice and suggestions.




References

Baird, W. 1849 The Natural History of the British Entomostraca, Ray

Society Monograph.

Bruce, J. R., Colman, J. S. and Jones, N. S. 1963 Marine Fauna of the

Isle of Man, Liverpool University Press.

Gotto, R. V. 1955 Irish Nat. Jour., 11, 255-256.

Haddon, A. C. 1886 Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., 14, 599-606 and 636. -?-?- and Green, W. S. 1887 Proc Roy. Irish Acad., 17, 29-56.

Hillis, J. P. and O'Riordan, C. E. 1960 Parasites of a Sunfish Mola mola

from the Irish Coast, Irish Nat. Jour., 13,^ 123.

Holt, E. W. L. 1891 Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland, Sei. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc, N.S./ 7, 225-477.

Kane, W. F. de V. 1892 Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., 18, 203-211.

Pearson, J. 1905 Fisheries, Ireland, Sei. Invest. 1904, 3, (1905).

Scharff, R. F. 1890 Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., 17, 456-459.

Scott, T. and A. 1913 The British Parasitic Copepoda, Ray Society

Monograph.

Scott, A. 1963 Copepods parasitic on the Basking Shark, Cetorhinus

maximus, Irish Nat. Jour., 14, 177-8.

Thompson, Wm. 1856 The Natural History of Ireland, Bohn, London? Vol. 4, pp. 409-413.

Williams, G. 1954 Fauna of Strangford Lough and Neighbouring Coasts, Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., 56B, 73.

Wright, E. P. 1870 On a New Species of the Genus Penella, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. 4, 5, 42.



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