. NO. 2063. NORTH AMERICAN PARASITIC COPEPODS— WILSON. 639 



LERNAEOPODINA, new genus. 



Generic characters of female. — Cephalothorax at an oblique angle 

 with the trunk, much smaller than the latter, and the two separated 

 by a distinct groove; dorsal carapace small and poorly defined; trunk 

 pear-shaped, much narrowed anteriorly; no anal laminae, but two 

 small posterior processes dorsal to the egg strings; no genital process 

 or external segmentation; first antennae three-jointed; second an- 

 tennae biramose, the rami about the same size, unsegmented, and 

 covered with bristles and spines; firet maxillae bipartite, with a 

 short palp; second maxillae slender, bulla button-shaped; maxillipeds 

 with slender terminal claw, having an accessory claw on the inner 

 margin; egg strings short and stout. 



Generic characters of male. — Body bent twice at right angles, so 

 that the trunk and the anterior portion of the cephalothorax are par- 

 allel with the second maxillae and maxillipeds; trunk separated from 

 the cephalothorax by a well-defined groove, unsegmented, and ter- 

 minating in two anal laminae, each tipped with a small spine; first 

 antennae three-jointed; second antennae biramose but not chelate; 

 fii-st maxillae slender, without a palp and tipped with two setae; 

 second maxillae and maxiUipeds very large and stout, and armed 

 with strong chelae. 



Type. — Lernaeopodina relata, new species, 



(JLernaeopodina, Lernaeopoda and ending denoting likeness.) 



Remarks. — It will be noted that the species belonging to this new 

 genus are parasitic on rays and sharks which inhabit the deeper 

 portions of the ocean. Brian called attention to this fact in con- 

 nection with the two new species which he established in 1912 

 (p. 38). And it may be still further emphasized by the three species 

 taken from deep water rays, Olsson's longimana, T. Scott's cluthae, 

 and the new species, relata. There must be the same adaptation 

 to pressm-e in the parasites which obtains in the fishes serving as 

 their hosts. This fact ought to have some systematic value in 

 indicating the close relationship of these species. The simplest 

 way to distinguish the genus from Lernaeopoda is by the posterior 

 processes in the female which are dorsal to the egg strings instead 

 of ventral. To this may be added the equal size of the rami of the 

 second antennae, both of which are unsegmented, while the first 

 maxillae are bipartite. The Lernaeopodina male is very much 

 smaller than that of Lernaeopoda, and its body is bent twice at 

 right angles, the cephalothorax has no carapace, and the second 

 maxillae as well as the maxiUipeds are chelate. 



Lernaeopoda cluthae T. Scott, 1900 (p. 173), is referred to this new 

 genus for several reasons. It has no dorsal carapace, no differ- 



