Taxonomy, Systematics, and Host Associations of Parasitic Copepods Infecting Marine Fishes of the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The taxonomy and systematics of parasitic copepods remain essential for understanding host–parasite relationships, biodiversity, parasite evolution, and biogeographical distribution. Integrative taxonomic approaches combining detailed morphological investigations with molecular phylogenetic analyses have significantly improved species delimitation and clarified evolutionary relationships within several copepod lineages. Nevertheless, many regions of the Indo-Pacific, including the Bay of Bengal along the east coast of India, remain inadequately explored, and numerous copepod taxa associated with marine fishes are yet to be documented. The Visakhapatnam coast, situated along the western Bay of Bengal, supports a rich diversity of marine fishes that provide suitable hosts for numerous parasitic copepods. Despite its ecological and fisheries importance, comprehensive taxonomic investigations of parasitic copepods from this region remain limited. Therefore, systematic studies integrating classical morphology with contemporary taxonomic concepts are essential for documenting copepod diversity, host associations, geographical distribution, and their potential impact on marine fish health and fisheries resources.