A new genus and species of philometrid (Nematoda) from the subcutaneous tissue of the crevalle jack, Caranx hippos (Osteichthyes), from the southern Gulf of Mexico

A new genus and species of nematode, Caranginema americanum n. gen., n. sp. (Philometridae), are described from gravid, subgravid, and nongravid female specimens collected from the subcutaneous tissue of the fish (crevalle jack) Caranx hippos (Carangidae, Perciformes) from the coral reef El Cabezo, southern Gulf of Mexico, Mexico. Caranginema, assigned to the Philometrinae, differs from other genera of this subfamily mainly in the presence of 2 conspicuous parallel cordons on either side, extending along nearly the entire body length and demarcating narrow smooth lateral fields and in having the remaining body surface with numerous ornamentations forming irregularly scattered, transversely elongated narrow cuticular molds. The new species is characterized mainly by the presence of 3 large, sclerotized esophageal teeth protruded out of the mouth, the number and arrangement of cephalic papillae (8 papillae in 4 pairs of external circle and 4 single papillae of internal circle), the length and structure of the esophagus, and by the body length of gravid and subgravid females (267 and 258 mm, respectively). Caranginema americanum is the seventh philometrid species reported from marine and brackish water fishes in Mexico.     

Dentiphilometra monopteri n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the abdominal cavity of the ricefield eel Monopterus albus in China

A new genus and species of philometrid nematode Dentiphilometra monopteri n. gen., n. sp., are described on the basis of the specimens found in the abdominal cavity of the ricefield eel (swamp-eel) Monopterus albus (Zouiev) from Liangzi Lake (the Yangtze River drainage system), Hubei Province, in central China. Dentiphilometra, assigned to the Philometrinae, differs from other genera of this subfamily mainly in the presence of a sclerotized oral ring armed on its inner surface by numerous small peribuccal teeth in the gravid female. The new species is characterized by minute cephalic papillae, a greatly developed anterior esophageal bulb separated from the cylindrical part of the esophagus, anterior extention of the esophageal gland anterior to the nerve ring, and by large caudal projections in females and equal spicules 0.051-0.096 mm long in males. This is the second philometrid species recorded from fishes of the Synbranchiformes.     

Two new gonad-infecting philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the yellowedge grouper Hyporthodus flavolimbatus (Serranidae) and the great northern tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps (Malacanthidae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from marine perciform fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico: P. hyporthodi n. sp. from the ovary of the yellowedge grouper Hyporthodus flavolimbatus (Poey) (Serranidae) and P. lopholatili n. sp. from the ovary of the great northern tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps Goode & Bean (Malacanthidae). Philometra hyporthodi is mainly characterised by the body length of both the males (3.62–4.07 mm) and gravid female (105 mm), the length of the spicules (135–138 μm) and the presence of dorsal transverse lamella-like structures on the distal portion of the gubernaculum. Philometra lopholatili is distinguished by the presence of a distinct dorsal protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellated parts separated from each other by a smooth median field, an uninterrupted mound on the male caudal extremity, the length of the spicules (165–189 μm) and the body length of the males (2.19–2.34 mm) and gravid female (280 mm). Philometra lopholatili is the first representative of the genus and the second philometrid species reported from fishes of the family Malacanthidae.     

Cystoopsis atractostei n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystoopsidae) from the subcutaneous tissue of the tropical gar,Atractosteus tropicus (Pisces), in Mexico

A new species of parasitic nematode, Cystoopsis atractostei (Trichinelloidea: Cystoopsidae), is described based on female specimens recovered from the subcutaneous tissue of the tropical gar, Atractosteus tropicus Gill (Lepisosteiformes: Lepisosteidae), from 2 localities (Canal Nueva Esperanza and Canal Tabasquillo) of the Pantanos de Centla Biological Reserve, State of Tabasco, southeastern Mexico, collected in April 2001. The total prevalence was 13%, and the mean intensity of infection was 1 nematode per fish. The new species differs from females of the only other adequately described congeneric species, C. acipenseris Wagner, 1867, mainly in possessing a bulbous inflation at the anterior end of the muscular esophagus, the vulva situated well posterior to the nerve ring, smooth cuticle, and in the shape of the posterior vesicular portion of the body (markedly transversely oval) in the largest specimens. Both species also differ in their host types (Lepisosteiformes vs. Acipenseriformes) and in geographical distribution (tropical southern Mexico vs. temperate zones of the Holarctic).     

Paracapillaria epinepheli n. sp. (Nematoda: Capillariidae) from the red grouper Epinephelus morio (Pisces) from Mexico

A new nematode species, Paracapillaria epinepheli, is described from the stomach of the marine fish Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes), the red grouper, (Serranidae, Perciformes) from coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Yucatan, southeastern Mexico. It is characterised mainly by its small body (body length of male and female 2.73–3.22 mm and 5.94–6.35 mm, respectively), number (31–36) and structure of the stichocytes, length of the spicule (0.180–0.195 mm), structure of the male caudal bursa (considerably reduced), structure and size of the eggs (size 0.057–0.063 × 0.027–0.030 mm), and by their site within the host. It is the second Paracapillaria species known to occur in the marine and estuarine fishes of the Gulf of Mexico.     

A new philometrid species (Nematoda) from the freshwater fish Cichlasoma istlanum (Jordan and Snyder, 1899) (Cichlidae) in Mexico

A new nematode species, Philometra poblana n. sp., is described based on specimens recovered from skin at the base of the pectoral fins of the cichlid Cichlasoma istlanum (Jordan and Snyder, 1899) from the water spring El Borbollon, in the State of Puebla, Mexico. The new species most closely resembles Philometra gymnosardae and Philometra ophisterni; however, P. poblana can be easily differentiated from the other species by the length of gravid females (7.10-10.43 vs. 14.8-27.0 and 28.67-39.30 mm, respectively), length of caudal projections (0.015-0.023 vs. 0.047 and 0.006-0.009 mm high, respectively), site of infection (skin at base of pectoral fins vs. abdominal cavity, both species), and the host species (Cichlidae vs. Synbranchidae and Scombridae).     

Neoascarophis macrouri n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the stomach of Macrourus berglax (Macrouridae) in the eastern Greenland Sea

A new species of parasitic nematode, Neoascarophis macrouri n. sp. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the stomach and stomach wall of the marine deep-water fish Macrourus berglax (onion-eye grenadier) in the eastern Greenland Sea (North Atlantic Ocean). The new species, studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy, is characterised mainly by the location of the vulva near the posterior end of the body (a short distance anterior to the anus), non-filamented eggs, the structure of the mouth, a short vestibule and the length of the spicules (567-615 and 144-156 mum). Metabronema insulanum Solov'eva, 1991 is transferred to Neoascarophis as N. insulana (Solov'eva, 1991) n. comb.     

Observations on a cucullanid nematode of marine fishes from Taiwan Strait, Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris n. sp

During a helminthological examination of marine fishes from south of the Minnan-Taiwan Bank Fishing Ground, Taiwan Strait, Fujian, China, a new cucullanid nematode, Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) jialaris n. sp., was removed from the intestine of the red seabream, Pagrus major (Temminck & Schlegel, 1834). The new species differs from its congeners mainly in the following characters: body size medium but with relative long spicules of 1.01 mm (0.97-1.06) in length or 20.0% (18.21-21.8%) of the body length; proximal end of spicules somewhat expanded and distal end rounded; gubernaculum I-shaped, slightly narrow in the middle part, both ends rounded; both anterior and posterior cloaca lips round or oval, prominent and unequal in size. The anterior cloaca lip is at least 2 times larger than the posterior one. There is a conspicuous papilliform structure within the central of anterior and posterior cloacal lip. Vulva of female is not prominent, slightly postequatorial; distance from vulva to anterior end of body is 4.3 (3.0-5.5) mm or 58.0% (54.0-62.0%) of the body length. Considering the result of comparing the structure of so-called unpaired median papilla with the 10 pairs of caudal petiolated papillae in the body of the same individual. the papilliform structures are just a backstop for the cloacal lips, this new species represents the first record of a nematode of the Dichelyne, subgenus Cucullanellus in marine fishes of China Sea.     

Morphological and molecular data reveal a new species of Neoechinorhynchus (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from Dormitator maculatus in the Gulf of Mexico

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) mexicoensis sp. n. is described from the intestine of Dormitator maculatus (Bloch 1792) collected in 5 coastal localities from the Gulf of Mexico. The new species is mainly distinguished from the other 33 described species of Neoechinorhynchus from the Americas associated with freshwater, marine and brackish fishes by having smaller middle and posterior hooks and possessing a small proboscis with three rows of six hooks each, apical hooks longer than other hooks and extending to the same level as the posterior hooks, 1 giant nucleus in the ventral body wall and females with eggs longer than other congeneric species. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA including the domain D2 + D3 were used independently to corroborate the morphological distinction among the new species and other congeneric species associated with freshwater and brackish water fish from Mexico. The genetic divergence estimated among congeneric species ranged from 7.34 to 44% for ITS and from 1.65 to 32.9% for LSU. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses with each dataset showed that the 25 specimens analyzed from 5 localities of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico parasitizing D. maculatus represent an independent clade with strong bootstrap support and posterior probabilities. The morphological evidence, plus the monophyly in the phylogenetic analyses, indicates that the acanthocephalans collected from intestine of D. maculatus from the Gulf of Mexico represent a new species, herein named N. (N.) mexicoensis sp. n.     

A new species of Philometra (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the sand perch Diplectrum formosum (Serranidae) off Florida, northern Gulf of Mexico

A new nematode species, Philometra diplectri n. sp. (Philometridae), is described from male and female specimens found in unidentified tissues of head and anterior trunk (males) and subcutaneously in the mouth and under the operculum (females) of sand perch, Diplectrum formosum (Linnaeus) (Serranidae, Perciformes), from the northern Gulf of Mexico off Florida (Florida Middle Grounds). Based on light and scanning electron microscopy examination, the new species differs from other congeners parasitizing the subcutaneous tissues, fins, tissues of the buccal cavity, and gill covers or gill arches of marine and brackish-water fishes, mainly in having 8 conspicuously large cephalic papillae of the external circle, the absence of caudal projections, and the shape and small size of the anterior inflation of the esophagus in gravid females, and in possessing 5 pairs of caudal papillae and spicules 66-78 μm long in males. Philometra diplectri is the first known species of this genus whose gravid females are parasitic in the head tissues of serranid fishes.     

Occurrence of Philometra lateolabracis (Nematoda: Philometridae) in the gonads of marine perciform fishes in the Mediterranean region

Gravid females of the nematode Philometra lateolabracis (Yamaguti, 1935), a parasite of gonads of marine perciform fishes, were found in wild and cultured dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe) from waters near the Balear Islands (Spain, Mediterranean Sea) and Sicily (Italy, Thyrrenean Sea), and in the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili (Risso) in Croatia (south-eastern Adriatic Sea). In wild E. marginatus in Spain, the overall prevalence was 21% and the intensity of infection 1 nematode per fish. The nematodes are briefly described and illustrated. The species Sanguinofilaria jordanoi López-Neyra, 1951, described from the ovary of Epinephelus gigas Brünich from Morocco, is synonymized with P. lateolabracis. This is the first documented record of P. lateolabracis from fishes of the Mediterranean region and its finding in S. dumerili represents a new host record. The possible importance of this pathogenic parasite for cultures of marine perciform fishes in the region is stressed.     

Neoascarophis macrouri n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the stomach of Macrourus berglax (Macrouridae) in the eastern Greenland Sea

A new species of parasitic nematode, Neoascarophis macrouri n. sp. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the stomach and stomach wall of the marine deep-water fish Macrourus berglax (onion-eye grenadier) in the eastern Greenland Sea (North Atlantic Ocean). The new species, studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy, is characterised mainly by the location of the vulva near the posterior end of the body (a short distance anterior to the anus), non-filamented eggs, the structure of the mouth, a short vestibule and the length of the spicules (567–615 and 144–156 μm). Metabronema insulanum Solov’eva, 1991 is transferred to Neoascarophis as N. insulana (Solov’eva, 1991) n. comb.     

A fish prey found in the coral snake Micrurus alleni (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Costa Rica

A fish prey found in the coral snake Micrurus alleni (Serpentes: Elapidae) in Costa Rica. The presence of a small specimen of the swamp eel Synbranchus marmoratus (84 mm total length) in the stomach contents of an adult coral snake Micrurus alleni with 692 mm total length from the Caribbean versant of Costa Rica is reported. This eel was swallowed headfirst.     

Culuwiya cichlidorum n. sp (Digenea: Haploporidae) from the black-belt cichlid Vieja maculicauda (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Nicaragua

A new haploporid trematode, Culuwiya cichlidorum n. sp., is described from the intestine of the black-belt cichlid Vieja maculicauda (=Cichlasoma maculicauda (Regan)) from the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. It differs from congeneric species from freshwater and estuarine mugilid, cichlid, and gobiid fishes, previously placed to Saccocoelioides Szidat, 1954, and Carassotrema Park, 1938, in possessing the intestinal ceca reaching up to the posterior half of the testis and a bipartite, swollen external seminal vesicle. The new species also is characterized by a small, pyriform body, a well-developed prepharynx, a large pharynx, extensive vitelline follicles, confluent posterior to the testis that is situated near the posterior extremity, a uterus limited to the pretesticular and postacetabular region, and few, but relatively large, eggs (67-81 x 36-47 microm, i.e., about 12-14% of the body length) and miracidia without eye-spots. Culuwiya cichlidorum is also reported from Tomocichla tuba (Meek) in Nicaragua and species of Cichlasoma, Herichthys, Oreochromis, Parachromis, Petenia, Theraps, and Vieja from Mexico.     

A new gonad-infecting species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Philometra</Emphasis> Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the marine fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Terapon jarbua</Emphasis> (Forsskål) (Terapontidae) off the eastern coast of India

A new nematode species, Philometra terapontis n. sp. (Philometridae), is described from male and female specimens found in the ovary of the jarbua terapon Terapon jarbua (Forsskål) (Terapontidae, Perciformes) from the Bay of Bengal off the eastern coast of India. Based on light and scanning electron microscopical examination, the new species differs from most other gonad-infecting Philometra spp. in the length of the spicules (105–114 μm), a gubernaculum with dorsal, lamella-like structures and a distinct protuberance on its distal end, and a U-shaped, dorsally uninterrupted caudal mound in the male. From a few congeneric, gonad-infecting species with unknown males, it can be distinguished by morphological and biometrical features found in gravid females (i.e. length of body, length of first-stage larvae or oesophagus, and caudal structure), by the host type (fish family) and by the geographical distribution. Philometra terapontis is the first philometrid species reported from a fish belonging to the family Terapontidae. Philometra sawara Quiazon, Yoshinaga &; Ogawa, 2008 is considered a junior synonym of P. scomberomori (Yamaguti, 1935). A key to gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitising marine and brackish-water fishes is provided.     

Scolecenchelys fuscogularis (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae, Myrophinae), a new worm eel from Japan

A new species of worm eel (Ophichthidae, subfamily Myrophinae), Scolecenchelys fuscogularis, is described from two specimens collected at 90–147 m depth off the coast of Japan. The new species is characterized by its dorsal-fin origin, which is located posterior to a vertical through the anus, its high total number of vertebrae (146–149), and its uniserial dentition on jaws and vomer. The new species is similar to Scolecenchelys australis and Scolecenchelys tasmaniensis in having 148–152 total and 60–61 preanal vertebrae and its uniserial teeth, but can be distinguished from the latter two species as it has a larger head [8.5–8.8 % of total length (TL) vs. 7.8–8.3 %], a longer trunk (39 % TL vs. 34–35 %), and a shorter tail (52–53 % TL vs. 56–58 %). Although S. fuscogularis most resembles Scolecenchelys chilensis in having 146–159 total and 59–64 preanal vertebrae and uniserial teeth, as well as in the proportions of the head, trunk and tail, the new species differs from the latter in having a smaller head (8.5–8.8 % TL vs. 8.9–9.7 %), a more slender body (body depth 1.5–1.6 % TL vs. 2.3–2.9 %), a more posterior dorsal-fin origin (horizontal distance between the origin and a vertical through the anus 83 % of head length vs. 36–54 %), no groove on the ventral side of its snout, and a dark lower jaw with a patch of melanophores on the ventral side of its branchial basket.     

Two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off the northern coast of Australia

Based on light and electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from the ovary of marine perciform fishes off the northern coast of Australia (near Darwin): Philometra carangis n. sp. from the bluespotted trevally Caranx bucculentus Alleyne & Macleay (Carangidae) and P. carponotati n. sp. from the Spanish flag snapper Lutjanus carponotatus (Richardson) (Lutjanidae). Philometra carangis is mainly characterised by the length of the spicules (153–189 µm), the presence of a distinct dorsal protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field, a V-shaped mound on the male caudal extremity, a pair of large post-cloacal papillae and the body length of the males (3.22–4.15 mm). Philometra carponotati is distinguished from other congeneric species parasitising lutjanids by the length of the spicules and gubernaculum (225–252 and 99–117 µm, respectively), the absence of a dorsal protuberance on the distal lamellar part of the gubernaculum, the presence of a U-shaped mound on the male caudal extremity, a pair of large post-cloacal papillae and the body length of the male (3.74–4.31 mm). Besides the recently established Philometra zabidii Moravec & Diggles, 2014 (based on a single female), these two newly described nematodes are the only nominal gonad-infecting species of Philometra known to parasitise marine fishes in Australian waters.     

Description of a new species of Kathlania Lane, 1914 (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from the intestine of the marine fish Trichiurus muticus (Griffith).

Kathlania sprentii n. sp. is described from the intestine of a marine fish. Trichiurus muticus (Griffith) from the South coast of Indian Ocean, India. The new form differs from other known species of the genus in the presence of two rounded teeth-like structures in the buccal capsule, spicule ratio 1:4 and rod-shaped gubernaculum with bifurcated distal end.