Development of Caligus multispinosus Shen,a caligid copepod parasitic on the black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli) cultured in Taiwan

The development of Caligus multispinosus was studied using instars reared from eggs in the laboratory and specimens obtained from the gills of pond-cultured black sea bream. Nine stages were identified, namely, two nauplii, one copepodid, four chalimus stages, one preadult and the adult. The distinctive feature of the spinulose outer spines on leg 4 appeared late in development (preadult stage) and the frontal filament produced in chalimus I is kept throughout the chalimus stages.