Minilernaea floricapitella gen. nov., sp. nov. (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Lernaeidae) a parasite of the freshwater fishes, Astyanax spp. and Corydoras ehrhardti Regan, 1912 of Santa Catarina and Paraná States, Brazil, is described, based on 10 postmetamorphic females. The new genus and species has the following characteristics that distinguish it from all other known lernaeids: (1) The body is very small (3.4-5.8 mm in length); (2) The head is provided anteriorly with six lobes and posteriorly with four undivided anchor arms. (3) The first pair of thoracopods is on the head, 2-4 are all on the "neck"; (4) Thoracopod 5 is reduced to a simple papillus near the genital pores; (5) The genital pores are equatorial in the hindbody and there is no pre-genital prominence. Since the head and part of the neck are inserted beneath the skin, the host produces a strong encapsulating reaction.
Astyanax; copepod parasite; Corydoras; Southern Brazil
