Redescription of the fish parasitic “tongue biter” Cymothoa rhina Schioedte & Meinert, 1884 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from Singapore

Abstract

Cymothoa rhina Schioedte & Meinert, 1884 is redescribed from specimens collected in Singapore, the female of which is designated as neotype. Adult female Cymothoa rhina can be identified by the acute anterior margin of the cephalon, anterolateral projections on pereonite 1 extending anteriorly along half the length of the cephalon, pleotelson posterior margin subtruncate (rounded in the male), and pereopod 7 ischium inferior margin with a bulbous protrusion and the basis with a distinct carina (weak in the male). Cymothoa rhina is known only from the Philippines, Guam and now Singapore, from Lutjanidae hosts