Paralaophonte harpagone sp. n. (Copepoda: Harpacticoida), a laophontid with an extremely specialised maxilliped

Paralaophonte harpagone sp. n. is described from the coast of Kenya. The new species does not show any sexual dimorphism in the endopodite of P3 nor in the exopodites of P2 to P4. However, it is a true representative of the genus Peralaophonte by virtue of the typical sexually dimorphic P2 endopodite with its modified distal inner seta on the second endopodal segment. The most distinguishing feature of the new species is the robust, enlarged and specialised maxilliped, present in both sexes. This maxilliped is similar in robustness and position to the highly specialised maxilliped in the laophontid genus Namakosiramia Ho & Perkins, 1977 the two members of which live as ectoparasites on holothurians. We can only speculate whether the specialised maxilliped of Paralaophonte harpagone sp, n. is an adaptation to living in association with another invertebrate.Paralaophonte harpagone sp. n. is described from the coast of Kenya. The new species does not show any sexual dimorphism in the endopodite of P3 nor in the exopodites of P2 to P4. However, it is a true representative of the genus Peralaophonte by virtue of the typical sexually dimorphic P2 endopodite with its modified distal inner seta on the second endopodal segment. The most distinguishing feature of the new species is the robust, enlarged and specialised maxilliped, present in both sexes. This maxilliped is similar in robustness and position to the highly specialised maxilliped in the laophontid genus Namakosiramia Ho & Perkins, 1977 the two members of which live as ectoparasites on holothurians. We can only speculate whether the specialised maxilliped of Paralaophonte harpagone sp, n. is an adaptation to living in association with another invertebrate.A