Sexual Parasitism in the Deep-sea Ceratioid Anglerfish Centrophryne spinulosa Regan and Trewavas (Lophiiformes: Centrophrynidae)
A sexually parasitized female of the deep-sea ceratioid anglerfish Centrophryne spinulosa is described for the first time, bringing the number of ceratioid species known to exhibit sexual parasitism to 24 and the number of ceratioid families to six. The attached pair represents the largest known individuals of both sexes. The extreme and puzzling rarity of parasitized females in some of the best known ceratioid species is discussed. While it has been hypothesized that some ceratioid taxa reproduce solely by temporary male–female attachment, it now seems reasonable to expect the eventual discovery of parasitized females in any of the remaining ceratioid taxa.
Centrophryne spinulosa, MMF 42243. (A) Female (369 mm SL) with parasitic male (38.0 mm SL), left lateral view; (B) parasitic male, left lateral view; (C) detail of attachment, right lateral view. Drawings by Helena Encarnação.
Contributor Notes
On 24 March 2013, while this paper was in review, our co-author and esteemed colleague, Helena Paula Olim Encarnacão, accomplished biologist, wildlife photographer, and scientific illustrator at the Museum of Natural History Funchal, passed away at age 38, after a lengthy illness that she bore with great courage. We dedicate this paper to her memory.
Associate Editor: D. Buth.