174 BRITISH PARASITIC C0PUP0DA. 



6. Chondracanthus limandae Kroyer. 

 (Plate XL VII, fig. 6; Plate LVI, figs. 11, 12.) 



1863. Chondracanthus limandae Kroyer. (71) p. 248, pi. xiv, fig. 2, a-b 

 1900. Chondracanthus limandx T. Scott. (112) p. 167, pi. vii, figs. 

 38-40. 



Female. — Body tolerably robust ; head large, length 

 equal to about two-thirds of the width ; first thoracic 

 segment very short, considerably narrower than the 

 head, second much larger, nearly as wide as the 

 genital segment, and having on each side on the dorsal 

 aspect a slightly-elevated rounded knob the diameter 

 of which is equal to a third of the width of the seg- 

 ment.* Genital segment broad, not greatly elongated, 

 and divided by a distinct transverse constriction 

 into two nearly equal portions ; the posterolateral 

 corners of the distal portion are produced into mode- 

 rately short stout lobes with bluntly-rounded ends. 

 Abdomen short, biarticulate, and nearly filling the 

 space between the lateral lobes. 



Antennules well developed, basal joint large, end 

 one small but fairly well defined, and bearing a few 

 small apical spines. Mandibles tolerably large ; other 

 mouth-appendages as in Chondracanthus comutus. 

 Thoracic legs stout but not greatly elongated. Length 

 about 5 mm. Length of egg-strings about the same. 

 Colour opaque-white tinged with red. 



Male.- — -The male of this species does not differ 

 greatly in size or structure from that of Chondra- 

 canthus comutus. The cephalothorax is greatly en- 

 larged, but the abdomen is small and composed of 

 about three segments. Antennae and maxillipeds 

 provided with stout terminal claws fitted for grasping. 

 Length about - 65 mm. 



Habitat. — Parasitic on the gills of the dab (Pleuro- 

 nectes limanda Linn.). This parasite does not appear 

 to be very common, and has only been met with on 

 the dab. Kroyer obtained his specimens also on the 



* Kroyer says, — " Annulo secundo duobus tuberculis humeralibus prsedito 

 magnis." ' Bidrag til Kundskab om Snyltekrebsene/ p. 256 (1863). 



