Sphyriidae is a family of marine copepods in the order Siphonostomatoida.
Taxonomy and history The family Sphyriidae was established by Charles Branch Wilson in 1919 with Sphyrion as the type genus. Wilson erected the family to include the existing genera of Opimia, Rebelula (now recognised as Lophoura), Sphyrion, and Trypaphylum (now recognised as Tripaphylus) and the newly described genera of Paeon (now recognised as Tripaphylus) and Periplexus. Eight genera are currently recognised.
Ecology Adult female sphyriids are sessile mesoparasites of marine fishes, burrowing into the tissue of their hosts and anchoring themselves in place by expanding the cephalothorax or using a holdfast organ. Species of Driocephalus, Norkus, Opimia, and Tripaphylus are parasites of epipelagic elasmobranchs, attaching to branchial or olfactory lamellae, while species of Lophoura, Paeonocanthus, Periplexis, and Sphyrion are parasites of mesopelagic to bathypelagic teleosts, attaching to body musculature. Adult males are sometimes observed attached to adult females.
Classification This family includes the following genera: Driocephalus Raibaut, 1999 Lophoura Kölliker, 1853 Norkus Dojiri & Deets, 1988 Opimia Wilson, 1908 Paeonocanthus Kabata, 1965 Periplexis Wilson, 1919 Sphyrion Cuvier, 1830 Tripaphylus Richiardi, 1878
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