Braga amapaensis n. sp. (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) a mouth cavity parasite of the Amazonian fish, Acestrorhynchus guyanensis MENEZES, with a redefinition of the genus Braga

Abstract

Braga amapaensis n. sp. (Isopoda, Cymothoidae) is described from the mouth cavity of the fish, Acestrorhynchus guyanensis MENEZES taken in the Brazilian state of Amapá. The new species is characterized as having: a non-immersed truncate cephalon which is dorsally concave; antennal bases that are far apart; subrectangular mandibles; a short pleon; elongate pereopods and multilaminate pleopods. The new form appears to be host specific and is smaller than the other known species of Braga. The genus Braga is redefined.