A Review of the Parasitic Isopod Genus Epicepon Nierstrasz ＆ Brender à Brandis, 1931 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Epicaridea), Parasites of Cyclodorippoid Crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), with Description of a New Species from New Caledonia

A new species of the parasitic isopod genus Epicepon Nierstrasz ＆ Brender à Brandis, 1931 (Isopoda: Bopyridae) found parasitizing the cyclodorippoid crab host Tymolus hirtipes Tan ＆ Huang, 2000 is described from New Caledonia. Females of Epicepon belema n. sp. can be distinguished from those of the other two species in the genus in length to width ratio, pleopodal endopod morphology, and structure of the barbula. We review the two previously described species of Epicepon from Tymolus Stimpson, 1858 hosts based on type specimens of E. indicum Nierstrasz ＆ Brender à Brandis, 1931 from Indonesia and type specimens plus new material of E. japonicum Nierstrasz ＆ Brender à Brandis, 1931 from Japan. New details previously omitted from the original descriptions and a key to species of Epicepon based on female and male specimens are provided.