A redescription of Pseudocharopinus pteromylaei Raibaut et Essafi, 1979 (Siphonostomatoida: Lernaeopodidae) collected from the South African east coast.

Pseudocharopinus Kabata, 1964 is one of the 48 genera comprising the Lernaeopodidae (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida). Currently there are 11 accepted species contained in Pseudocharopinus. Pseudocharopinus pteromylaei Raibaut et Essafi, 1979 infects the spiracles and gill filaments of Pteromylaeus bovinus (Geoffroy St. Hilaire) and is most similar in general appearance to P. pteroplateae (Yamaguti et Yamasu, 1959) from which it clearly differs in the size and dimensions of the dorsal shield and the posterior processes. Additional features of the antenna and the maxilliped ofP. pteromylaei, not previously illustrated, are discussed and illustrated while more detailed illustrations of other appendages are provided. This is the first report of the occurrence of a Pseudocharopinus species from the west Indian Ocean and the first report of P. pteromylaei off the east coast of South Africa.