Dendromonocotyle urogymni sp. nov. (Monogenea, Monocotylidae) from Urogymnus asperrimus (Elasmobranchii, Dasyatidae) off eastern Australia

Dendromonocotyle urogymni sp. nov. is described from the dorsal surface of the porcupine ray, Urogymnus asperrimus, kept at Cairns Marine Aquarium Fish in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Dendromonocotyle urogymni can be distinguished most readily from the other 15 species in the genus by the male copulatory organ which has a distinct spherical inflation mid-way along its length. This is the first monocotylid to be described from U. asperrimus.     

The life cycle of Mesostephanus indicum Mehra, 1947 (Digenea: Cyathocotylidae)

The life cycle of the cyathocotylid fluke, Mesostephanus indicum Mehra, 1947 infecting the pariah kite, Milvus migrans govinda (Accipitridae), is elucidated. The species, reported by Mehra (Proc Nat Acad Sci India 17:1–52, 1947) from Buteo rufinus rufinus (Accipitridae), was transferred to the genus Prohemistomum by Dubois (Rev Suiss de Zool 58:639–691, 1951). However, it is retained in the genus Mesostephanus because of the presence of vaginal sphincter and caudal appendage, which are the characters of the genus. Its first intermediate host is the gastropod snail, Bellamya bengalensis (Viviparidae), which released the furcocercous cercariae. The prohemistomulum-type metacercariae encysted in the muscle tissues of the freshwater fish Rasbora daniconius and Puntius sophore (Cyprinidae), Mystus malabaricus (Bagridae), Heteropneustes fossilis (Heteropneustidae), Aplocheilus lineatus (Cyprinodontidae), Etroplus maculatus and E. suratensis (Cichlidae), and Pseudosphromenus cupanus (Belontidae). Recovery of M. indicum from M. m. govinda forms a new host record, and this is the first report of the life cycle of the genus from India.     

A new species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea, Acanthocolpidae) with a bizarre oral sucker: S. adlardi sp. nov. from the common coral trout Plectropomus leopardus (Lacepède, 1802) (Perciformes, Serranidae) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef

A new species of Acanthocolpidae, Stephanostomum adlardi is described from the serranid Plectropomus leopardus from Lizard Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef. It differs from all previously described acanthocolpids in the structure of the oral sucker which is extended into dorsal and ventral lobes each bearing a row of spines. A phylogenetic tree estimated from combined nuclear small and partial large ribosomal RNA gene sequences shows that, despite the unusual oral sucker structure, the species is a true member of the genus Stephanostomum. The molecular results also suggest that Monostephanostomum nolani is derived from within Stephanostomum.     

The first record of Macrogyrodactylus species (Monogenea, Gyrodactylidae) on freshwater fishes in Senegal with the description of Macrogyrodactylus simentiensis sp. nov., a parasite of Polypterus senegalus Cuvier

The first record of monogenean parasites of the genus Macrogyrodactylus Malmberg, 1957 on freshwater fish in Senegal is presented. Macrogyrodactylus congolensis Prudhoe, 1957 from the skin and Macrogyrodactylus heterobranchii N’Douba et Lambert, 1999 from the gills of Clarias anguillaris L. were found, representing new host records for these parasites. On Polypterus senegalus Cuvier, three Macrogyrodactylus species were identified, Macrogyrodactylus polypteri Malmberg, 1957, Macrogyrodactylus simentiensis sp. nov. and Macrogyrodactylus sp. M. simentiensis sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from the other Macrogyrodactylus species by the size of its hamuli and the shape of its marginal hook sickles. The marginal hooks on the anterolateral lobes of M. simentiensis differ in size and shape from those on the posterior margin of the haptor. Measurements and drawings of the haptoral sclerites of all five identified species are provided.     

An uncommon condition for a sex chromosome system in Characidae fish. Distribution and differentiation of the ZZ/ZW system in Triportheus

Triportheus is a neotropical freshwater Characidae fish that has a well-differentiated ZZ/ZW sex chromosome system. The W chromosome of this genus contains a large amount of heterochromatin and is smaller than the Z chromosome. This contrasts with other ZW fish systems where the W chromosome is larger in size due to increased heterochromatin. All species of Triportheus that have been studied cytologically (about 50% of the known species for this genus, from some of the major South American hydrographic basins) share this sex chromosome system, indicating a probable synapomorphic condition not present in other genera of the large Characidae family. However, while the Z chromosome appears to be largely conserved, the W chromosome shows a differential evolution with morphological differentiations not only among species, but also among populations from the same hydrographic basin, and with some species presenting a greater homology between the W and the Z chromosomes than others.     

A new species of Trichostrongylus (Nematoda, Trichostronglyoidea) parasitizing the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum (Rodentia, Octodontidae) from Mar de Cobo, Argentina

A new nematode species, Trichostrongylus duretteae sp. nov., found in the small intestine of Ctenomys talarum from Argentina is described. The new species more closely resembles T. suis lwanitsky, 1930 a parasite of Sus scrofa in the USSR. However, the new species can be distinguished by the morphology of male genital bursa: Rays 6 distant from rays 8 and a larger dorsal ray in relation to the length of rays 2 to 8. The present finding is the first record of the genus Trichostronglyus in rodents of the family Octodontidae.     

Three species of Philometra (Nematoda, Philometridae) from marine fishes off Corsica, France

Gravid or subgravid females of the following three species belonging to the nematode genus Philometra were collected from marine perciform fishes of the Bonifacio Strait Marine Reserve, Corsica, France: Philometra justinei sp. nov. (prevalence 1.5%, intensity 11) and Philometra sp. (prevalence 3%, intensity 2) from the abdominal cavity and gonads, respectively, of the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus (Mullidae), and Philometra serranellicabrillae Janiszewska, 1949 (prevalence 27%, intensity 2–6) from the gonads of the comber Serranus cabrilla (Serranidae). The newly described species, P. justinei, is mainly characterized by the absence of an anterior bulbous inflation of the oesophagus, body length of the gravid female (196 mm), conspicuously large amphids, number and distribution of cephalic papillae, and the morphology of larvae. It is the second known species of Philometra parasitizing fishes of the family Mullidae and the ninth species of this genus reported from marine fishes of the Mediterranean region. P. serranellicabrillae, studied for the first time by SEM, is redescribed.     

The phylogeny of howler monkeys (Alouatta, Platyrrhini): Reconstruction by multicolor cross-species chromosome painting

We performed multidirectional chromosome painting in a comparative cytogenetic study of the three howler monkey species Alouatta fusca, A. caraya and A. seniculus macconnelli (Atelinae, Platyrrhini) in order to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within this genus. Comparative genome maps between these species were established by multicolor fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) employing human, Saguinus oedipus and Lagothrix lagothricha chromosome-specific probes. The three species included in this study and previously analyzed howler monkey species were subjected to a phylogenetic analysis on the basis of a data matrix comprised of 98 discrete molecular cytogenetic characters. The results revealed that howler monkeys represent the genus with the most extensive karyotype diversity within Platyrrhini so far analyzed with high levels of intraspecific chromosomal variability. Two different multiple sex chromosome systems were identified. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Alouatta is a monophyletic clade which can be derived from a proposed ancestral Atelinae karyotype of 2n=62 chromosomes by a chromosome fusion, a fission, a Y-autosomal translocation and a pericentric inversion. Following these suggestions, the genus Alouatta can be divided into two distinct species groups: the first includes A. caraya and A. belzebul, the second A. s. macconnelli, A. sara, A. s. arctoidea and A. fusca.     

New host and distribution records of Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Nematoda, Onchocercidae)

The nematode Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Garnot, 1826) (Aves, Podicipediformes) at Puerto Madryn, Argentina. The specimens redescribed in this note are based on 7 females and 3 males. This is the first Argentinean record for this species and the second for South America, and represents the southern-most record of a species from this genus.     

Description of a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tylodelphys</Emphasis> (Digenea,Diplostomidae) in the wood stork, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycteria americana</Emphasis> (Aves,Ciconiidae) from Argentina

During the course of a study on the endohelminth parasites of birds, specimens of an undescribed species of Tylodelphys Diesing, 1850 (Diplostomidae) were collected from the wood stork, Mycteria americana L., from Formosa Province, Argentina. Tylodelphys brevis sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other Neotropical species of this genus, T. elongata, T. americana and T. adulta, principally by the smaller size of the body (570–851 μm), by the fewer eggs in the uterus (1–2) and by the smaller ratio of body to egg length (6–8). This is the second report of an adult of the genus Tylodelphys from Argentina and the first record of a digenean species parasitizing Mycteria americana in this country.     

Eight new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Siphoderina</Emphasis> Manter, 1934 (Digenea,Cryptogonimidae) infecting Lutjanidae and Haemulidae (Perciformes) off Australia

We report nine species, eight of which are new, of cryptogonimids belonging to Siphoderina Manter, 1934 from the intestine and pyloric caeca of five species of Lutjanidae (Lutjanus adetii, L. argentimaculatus, L. carponotatus, L. fulviflamma and L. russelli) and one species of Haemulidae (Plectorhinchus gibbosus) recovered from Heron and Lizard Islands off the Great Barrier Reef, Moreton Bay and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. We also report the metacercariae of two species from an atherinid fish, Atherinomorus capricornensis, from near Heron Island. Morphological analysis of the species reported here was augmented by DNA sequence analyses utilizing data from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2, large subunit (LSU) and 5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA to explore the integrity of the species and their biogeographic distributions. The analysis found strong support for the integrity of Siphoderina and found that it is the sister-taxon to Beluesca Miller et Cribb, 2007. Sequencing included multiple replicates and no intraspecific variation was observed between any of the taxa over the rDNA regions examined. Sequence data from the ITS and LSU regions were analysed with that of species of Beluesca, Caulanus Miller et Cribb, 2007, Chelediadema Miller et Cribb, 2007, Latuterus Miller et Cribb, 2007, Neometadena Hafeezullah et Siddiqi, 1970 and Retrovarium Miller et Cribb, 2007 which all also infect lutjanids or haemulids. Some closely related species of Siphoderina infect only distantly related fishes among the haemulids and lutjanids whereas others form clusters in association with clusters of closely related lutjanids. This pattern suggests a history of some co-evolutionary divergence together with significant host switching. Pseudallacanthochasmus Velasquez, 1961 is considered a synonym of Siphoderina and the new combinations S. grandispinus (Velasquez, 1961) n. comb. and S. magnivesiculum (Gaevskaya et Aljoshkina, 1985) n. comb. are proposed. As a result of the new species described here and these new combinations, Siphoderina now contains 43 species, making it by far the largest genus of the Cryptogonimidae.     

Gamidactylus piranhus sp. nov. (Copepoda, Vaigamidae) from the nasal fossae of serrasalmid fishes from the Três Marias Reservoir, Upper São Francisco River, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Gamidactylus piranhus sp. nov. (Copepoda, Vaigamidae) from the nasal fossae of “San Francisco piranha”, Pygocentrus piraya (Cuvier, 1819) and.White piranha. Serrasalmus brandtii (Lütken, 1875) is described. The new species is similar to the type species of the genus, Gamidactylus jaraquensis Thatcher et Boeger, 1984, but differs from it in the following respects: the cephalothorax is shorter, the free thoracic segments are usually longer, leg 5 is reduced to a simple seta and a spine on the second antennal segment is lacking. Gamidactylus bryconis Varella, 1995 and Gamidactylus hoplius Varella et Malta, 1996, do not closely resemble the new species because they are much larger and both present leg 5 reduced to a double seta.     

A new species of Pharyngodon (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae) and other helminths in Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis (Sauria, Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea

Pharyngodon novaeguineae sp. nov. from the large intestines of Cyrtodactylus louisiadensis (Sauria, Gekkonidae), from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Pharyngodon novaeguineae represents the 36th species assigned to the genus and is separated from its congeners based upon absence of a spicule, egg morphology, and excretory pore position.     

A new trematode species parasitizing the catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hoplosternum littorale</Emphasis> (Osteichthyes,Callichthyidae) from Paraná River,Brazil, with an emendation of the diagnosis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Magnivitellinum</Emphasis> (Trematoda,Macroderoididae)

Magnivitellinum corvitellinum sp. nov. is a parasite from the intestine of tamboatá Hoplosternum littorale, a freshwater catfish from Paraná River, Brazil. This species has an elongate body, a small cirrus-sac, testes in the posterior half of the body and well-developed follicular vitellines. It differs from the only other species in the genus, M. simplex, in having tegumental spines along the body, ventral sucker distinctly bigger than oral sucker, oesophagus absent and vitellaria extending from posterior margin of ventral sucker to near posterior extremity of body. An emendation of the generic diagnosis is proposed in view of the presence of tegumental spines along the body, absence of oesophagus, relative size of ventral and oral suckers and uterus covering caeca from the level of ventral sucker to the end of caeca. This is the fourth trematode species recorded parasitizing Hoplosternum littorale.     

Diplectanum parvus sp. nov. (Monogenea, Diplectanidae) from Cephalopholis urodeta (Perciformes, Serranidae) of New Caledonia

Diplectanum parvus sp. nov. is described from the coral reef fish Cephalopholis urodeta collected off New Caledonia, South Pacific, and is the first diplectanid described from this fish. The new species has a very small male copulatory organ (24 μm in length) and a minute body (246 μm in length) and is close to D. nanus Justine, 2007 from which it can be distinguished by the shape of dorsal bars and various measurements. These species belong to a group of diplectanids found in groupers (Serranidae, Epinephelinae), characterised by small funnel-shaped male copulatory organs and no sclerotized female organs. The attribution of these parasites to Diplectanum Diesing is provisional. Other parasites are briefly listed.

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Résumé   Diplectanum parvus sp. nov. est décrit du poisson de récif corallien Cephalopholis urodeta pLché en Nouvelle-Calédonie, et est le premier Diplectanidae décrit de ce poisson. La nouvelle espèce a une organe copulateur male (long de 24 μm) et un corps (long de 246 μm) très petits et est proche de D. nanus Justine, 2007 dont elle peut eêtre différenciée par la forme des barres dorsales et diverses mesures. Ces espèces appartiennent B un groupe de Diplectanidae parasites de mérous (Serranidae, Epinephelinae), caractérisés par des organes copulateurs males petits en forme d’entonnoir et l’absence d’organes sclérifiés femelles, qui sont attribués provisoirement B Diplectanum Diesing. Les autres parasites sont brièvement mentionnés.

     

Two new species of Pharyngodonidae (Nematoda,Oxyuroidea) in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gekko ulikovskii</Emphasis> from Vietnam

Pharyngodon duci sp. nov. and Spauligodon vietnamensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of a gecko, Gekko ulikovskii (Sauria, Gekkonidae), from Vietnam are described and illustrated. Pharyngodon duci is the 35th species assigned to the genus and is separated from its congeners based upon the lack of a spicule, egg morphology, mouth morphology and cloacal lip morphology. Spauligodon vietnamensis is the 44th species assigned to the genus and is separated from its congeners by the lack of a spicule, egg morphology, and tail filament morphology.     

Effect of host weight on the distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Argulus foliaceus</Emphasis> (L.) (Crustacea,Branchiura) within a fish community

Spatial heterogeneity is a feature common to many ecosystems. Aquatic organisms typically exhibit this heterogeneous distribution but to date little is known about the distribution of many common parasite species within water bodies. In this study the distribution of Argulus foliaceus (L.), an ectoparasitic crustacean, on different sized hosts within a mixed species fish community was determined. Different fish species exhibited differences in their louse burdens (prevalence and intensity). The highest prevalence of A. foliaceus was observed on fish species dominated by larger individuals (i.e. Cyprinus carpio, Abramis brama and Tinca tinca). C. carpio and A. brama also exhibited the highest mean louse intensities. Infested fish were generally heavier than uninfested conspecifics. Differences in the weight of uninfested and infested fish were significant (P<0.05) for the whole fish community samples and the Scardinius erythrophthalmus, A. brama and C. carpio samples. There was also a general pattern of increasing infestation intensity with an increase in host body weight, with significant correlations for the whole fish community for S. erythrophthalmus, A. brama and C. carpio samples. In addition there were significant differences in parasite prevalence and intensity between different host weight groups and larger (heavier) fish appeared to be more prone to infestation by A. foliaceus.     

Gastrointestinal helminths from two species of skink from Papua New Guinea, including two new species of Skrjabinodon (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae)

Skrjabinodon derooijae sp. nov. from the large intestine of Papuascincus stanleyanus (Scincidae) and Skrjabinodon sheai sp. nov. from the large intestine of Emoia pallidiceps (Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea are described and illustrated. Skrjabinodon derooijae sp. nov. and S. sheai sp. nov. represent the 27th and 28th species assigned to the genus and the 8th and 9th species from the Australo-Papuan Region. The new species differ from other species assigned to Skrjabinodon by egg and female tail morphology. The eggs of S. derooijae are spindleform with one truncate end and the female tail bears 13–16 tail spines in a defined pattern. The eggs of S. sheai are lagenoid and the female tail bears 12–16 tail spines in a random pattern. In addition to the new species, E. pallidiceps harboured Physalopteroides milnensis and P. stanleyanus harboured Mesocelium monas and Oswaldocruzia bakeri.