Family ANCHIMOLGIDAE Humes & Boxshall, 1996

Museums

Regional Maps

• Anchimolgidae Humes, A.G. & Boxshall, G.A. 1996. A revision of the lichomolgoid complex (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida), with the recognition of six new families. Journal of Natural History 30: 175-227 [179].

  Type genus:

   Anchimolgus Humes & Stock, 1972.

  Secondary source:

   Boxshall, G.A. & Halsey, S.H. 2004. An Introduction to Copepod Diversity. London : The Ray Society 966 pp. [425].

Introduction

Most anchimolgids are associated with scleractinian corals and occur wherever these hosts are located. There 28 genera, and over 80 species. See Boxshall & Halsey (2004: 425) for more details as well as a key to the genera.

Database Notes

Hosts
All members of this family, which comprises 24 genera and over 80 species, are associates of scleractinian corals (see Humes & Boxshall 1996: 185).

Diagnosis

This family is characterised by the form of the mandible which is the most highly derived type found in the lichomolgoid complex of families. The inner spinule row is differentiated into two pronounced convex lobes. The ornamentation of spinules, setules or denticles on these two lobes is often slightly different. The terminal lash varies in length but is always well defined. The proximal notch is also well defined. The outer scale is completely incorporated into the convex outer margin of the blade. The strongly bilobed inner margin (Fig. 2B) represents a robust diagnostic character for the Anchimolgidae. In the genus Diallagomolgus Humes, 1979 the inner spinule row of the mandible is slightly indented (D. productus Humes, 1979) or has an irregular margin (D. vicinus Humes, 1979). Despite this superficial resemblance to the bilobed condition Diallagomolgus is excluded from the Anchimolgidae.

History of changes