On the morphological variability of the attachment organ of Lernaeopodidae(Copepoda : Siphonostomatoida)

The study of the bulla from 18 lernaeopodid copepod species collected on 15 marine fish species and one freshwater fish species taken mainly from the Gulf of Lions in the Mediterranean Sea reveals a great morphological and st ructural variability. It is however possible to bring forth three general r emarks: - the bulla of Lernaeopodidae parasites of Selachii have a remarkab ly constant structure probably due to the tegument nature of the attachment substratum; - the bulla of Lernaeopodidae parasites of Teleostei has a mor phology influenced by the nature of the attachment tissue; - when species o f a same genus (i.e. Clavellotis) are attached on a same organ, the shape o f the bulla can constitute a taxonomic characteristic.