Epibiont Cohabitation in Freshwater Shrimp Neocaridina davidi with the Description of Two Species New to Science, Cladogonium kumaki sp. nov. and Monodiscus kumaki sp. nov., and Redescription of Scutariella japonica and Holtodrilus truncatus

This contribution presents the occurrence of epibiotic species associated with Neocaridina davidi shrimp collected in the wild, aquaculture ponds, and aquaria. A total of 900 shrimp are imported from Taiwan, three-quarters of which host at least one of the recorded epibionts. Among those epibionts, two species new to science are discovered, Cladogonium kumaki sp. nov. and Monodiscus kumaki sp. nov., while the other two, Holtodrilus truncatus and Scutariella japonica, are redescribed. The largest number of epibionts is found in shrimp collected from aquaculture ponds and the lowest in individuals from aquaria. Epibiont occurrence differs across designated microhabitats. The epibionts may be introduced alongside their host outside their native range, and their presence may affect shrimp breeding rates. Thus, more control over them should be provided. Their spread can be limited by removal from the host during molting or manually, as well as by using interspecies interactions.

Automated summary

This study reports the discovery of epibiotic species associated with Neocaridina davidi shrimp collected from the wild, aquaculture ponds, and aquaria. Among 900 imported shrimp from Taiwan, three-quarters of them host at least one of the recorded epibionts. Two new species, Cladogonium kumaki sp. nov. and Monodiscus kumaki sp. nov., were found, along with the redescriptions of Holtodrilus truncatus and Scutariella japonica. The highest number of epibionts is found in shrimp from aquaculture ponds, while the lowest is found in individuals from aquaria. The occurrence of epibionts differs across designated microhabitats. Their presence may affect shrimp breeding rates, thus requiring more control measures.