Lernaeocera obtusa n.sp., a hitherto undescribed parasite of the haddock (Gadus aeglefinus L.)

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Abstract
The fishes harbouring parasites of the genus Lernaeocera can be divided, according to the presence or absence of contact with the coastal waters, into ‘inshore’ and ‘offshore’ groups. According to literature, only L. branchialis occurs commonly on hosts in both groups. The difference between this and the remaining species of the genus is explained by the existence of two different species covered by the name L. branchialis. One of these species is parasitic on cod and whiting, the other on haddock. The two species have also different intermediate hosts (flounder and lemon sole respectively) and differ in morphology of the adult male and female and in the mode of attachment to the final host.Lernaeocera of whiting and cod is distributed mainly in the coastal area, while that from haddock extends over the whole of the North Sea. The former, but not the latter, is present outside the European continental shelf. All these differences lead to the conclusion that the two types represent two different species. The old name is retained for the parasite of cod and whiting. The parasite of haddock is the new species, to which the name Lernaeocera obtusa is given.

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