Studies of the cymothoid isopod Livoneca symmetrica Van Name, 1925, showed that this species has characters that preclude its inclusion in Livoneca Leach, 1818, or in any other known genus. The species is redescribed on the basis of male and female specimens from the mouth cavities of Amazonian piranhas (Serrasalmus spilopleura (Kner) and S. elongatus Kner) and Vanamea gen. nov. is proposed for it. The new genus is defined as having: a cephalon that is not immersed in pereonite 1; mandibles that are "foot-shaped" and without incisors, pereopods that are long and unequal in size and shape; a pleon that is not immersed in the pereon; and a pleotelson that is inflated anteriorly and medially.
Isopod; Cymothoid; Parasite; Piranha; Amazon