Expanding the geographic distribution and the first record from Brazil of Asymmetrione clibanarii Markham, 1975 (Isopoda: Bopyridae), an ectoparasite associated with hermit crabs of the genus Clibanarius Dana, 1852

Abstract

Asymmetrione clibanarii Markham, 1975 is a bopyrid ectoparasite of the branchial chamber of hermit crab species from the genus Clibanarius Dana, 1852. This parasite was previously recorded in isolated sites along the western Atlantic: USA, Colombia, and Ascension Island. In this study, we expand the geographical distribution of Asymmetrione clibanarii southward to Brazil.

Specimens were collected during low tide from intertidal zones at Paraíso Beach, municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil. Three pairs (one female and one male) of Asymmetrione clibanarii were exclusively found in the right branchial chambers of the three specimens of the host Clibanarius antillensis Stimpson, 1859. All females of A. clibanarii were ovigerous and accompanied by males.

This record expands the known geographic distribution of A. clibanarii, suggesting its potential presence throughout the range of its host species, which are widely distributed in the Atlantic.