Siphoderina hustoni n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Cryptogonimidae) from the Maori snapper Lutjanus rivulatus (Cuvier) on the Great Barrier Reef

A new cryptogonimid trematode, Siphoderina hustoni n. sp., is reported, collected off Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia, from the Maori snapper Lutjanus rivulatus (Cuvier). The new species is moderately distinctive within the genus. It is larger and more elongate than most other species of Siphoderina Manter, 1934, has the shortest forebody of any, a relatively large ventral sucker, a long post-testicular zone, and is perhaps most recognisable for the substantial space in the midbody between the ventral sucker and ovary devoid of uterine coils and vitelline follicles, the former being restricted to largely posterior to the ovary and the latter distributed from the level of the anterior testis to the level of the ovary. In phylogenetic analyses of 28S ribosomal DNA, the new species resolved with the other nine species of Siphoderina for which sequence data are available, all of which are from Queensland waters and from lutjanid and haemulid fishes. Molecular barcode data were also generated, for the ITS2 ribosomal DNA and cox1 mitochondrial DNA markers. The new species is the first cryptogonimid known from L. rivulatus and the first metazoan parasite reported from that fish in Australian waters.

     

Revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Podocotyloides</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), resurrection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pedunculacetabulum</Emphasis> Yamaguti, 1934 and the naming of a cryptic opecoelid species

Despite morphological and ecological inconsistencies among species, all plagioporine opecoelids with a pedunculate ventral sucker are currently considered to belong in the genus Podocotyloides Yamaguti, 1934. We revise the genus based on combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses of novel material collected from haemulid fishes in Queensland waters that we interpret to represent species congeneric with the type-species, Pod. petalophallus Yamaguti, 1934, also known from a haemulid, off Japan. Our phylogenetic analysis demonstrates polyphyly of Podocotyloides; prompts us to resurrect Pedunculacetabulum Yamaguti, 1934; and suggests that Pod. brevis Andres & Overstreet, 2013, from a deep-sea congrid in the Caribbean, and Pod. parupenei (Manter, 1963) Pritchard, 1966 and Pod. stenometra Pritchard, 1966, from mullids and chaetodontids, respectively, on the Great Barrier Reef, may each represent a distinct genus awaiting recognition. Our revised concept of Podocotyloides requires a pedunculate ventral sucker, but also a uterine sphincter prior to the genital atrium, a petalloid cirrus appendage, restriction of the vitelline follicles to the hindbody, and for the excretory vesicle to reach to the level of the ventral sucker. Of about 20 nominal species, we recognise just three in Podocotyloides (sensu stricto): Pod. petalophallus, Pod. gracilis (Yamaguti, 1952) Pritchard, 1966 and Pod. magnatestes Aleshkina & Gaevskaya, 1985. We provide new records for Pod. gracilis, and propose two new species of Podocotyloides, Pod. australis n. sp. and Pod. brevivesiculatus n. sp., and one new Pedunculacetabulum species, Ped. inopinipugnus n. sp., all from haemulids. Podocotyloides australis is morphologically indistinguishable from Pod. gracilis, and exploits the same definitive host, but is genetically and biogeographically distinct. It is thus a cryptic species, the first such opecoelid to be formally named.     

Two new genera,shape Provitellus and shape Ovipusillus,and four new species of Monorchiidae (Digenea) from carangid fishes of Queensland,Australia

Two new genera and four new species of monorchiid digeneans are described from the Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay, Queensland. Provitellus turrum n. g., n. sp. from Pseudocaranx dentex and Trachinotus coppingeri is characterised by the presence of vitelline follicles in the forebody, a single testis, a unipartite terminal organ and filamented eggs. Ovipusillus mayu n. g., n. sp. from Gnathanodon speciosus is characterised by the presence of two testes, vitelline follicles overlapping the ventral sucker and a large, complex cirrus-sac that contains a coiled eversible ejaculatory duct joined by the pars prostatica halfway along its length. Paramonorcheides pseudocaranxi n. sp. from Pseudocaranx dentex differs from other species described in this genus in the longer flatter forebody, entire ovary and the well-developed cirrus-sac. Chrisomon gaigai n. sp. from Trachinotus coppingeri and T. botla is characterised by the unflattened forebody and transversely oval pharynx. Chrisomon is redefined to include species of Lasiotocus with a vitellarium composed of clusters of tubular acini, creating the following new combinations: C. albulae n. comb. for L. albulae Overstreet, 1969, C. ulua n. comb. for L. ulua Yamaguti, 1970 and C. weke n. comb. for L. weke Yamaguti, 1970. The diagnosis of Lasiotocus is amended accordingly and the new combinations, L. polynemi n. comb. and L. sunderbanensis n. comb., are created for C. polynemi Dutta, Hafeezullah & Manna, 1994 and C. sunderbanensis Dutta, Hafeezullah & Manna, 1994, respectively. Extrapolation of our collection data suggests that there may be as many as 80 species of monorchiids infecting carangid fishes in Australia and 180 species infecting carangids in all oceans of the world. The latter figure greatly exceeds the number of monorchiids described from all host families to     

Steganoderma szidati n. sp. (Trematoda: Zoogonidae) from Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns) and G. platei Steindachner in Patagonia,Argentina

Steganoderma szidati n. sp. is described from the intestine of two freshwater fishes, Galaxias maculatus and G. platei (Galaxiidae), from Andean lakes in Patagonia, Argentina. This freshwater zoogonid species fits in the genus Steganoderma (sensu Bray, 1987) because of the length of the caeca and the position of the vitelline follicles. The new species is characterised by possesing 6-13 vitelline follicles situated between the anterior margin of the ventral sucker and the poterior margin of the testis. The gonads are in the anterior hindbody and the ovary is anterior to the right testis. The cirrus has two conspicuous spines at its distal end, and the seminal vesicle always exhibits a constriction. The excretory vesicle never reaches the level of the posterior margin of the testes.     

Tinamutrema canoae n. gen. et n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Strigeiformes: Brachylaimidae) in Crypturellus cinnamomeus (Aves, Passeriformes, Tinamidae) from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

We propose Tinamutrema as a new genus for Brachylaima centrodes (Braun, 1901) Dollfus, 1935 and for T. canoae, as a new species inhabiting tinamus in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Specimens from Costa Rica resemble B. centrodes in having an elongate body, pretesticular genital pore and terminal genitalia, intercecal uterine loops occupying all available space between the anterior testis and the intestinal bifurcation, an oral sucker width:pharynx width ratio of approximately 1:0.55, an oral sucker:ventral sucker width ratio of approximately 1:1, and vitelline follicles extending into the forebody closer to the pharynx than to the anterior margin of the ventral sucker and by living in the cloaca. They differ from B. centrodes in having vitelline follicles that do not extend as far anteriorly as those in B. centrodes, which extend anteriorly to the level of the anteriormost extent of the cecal "shoulders," dense tegumental spination as opposed to sparse or no spination, relatively smaller cirrus with fewer spines, longer and more sinous pars prostatica, and forebody averaging 36% of total body length (TBL) as opposed to 42% TBL. Both species differ from other members of the Brachylaimidae in possessing a spinose cirrus and a cirrus sac containing both the cirrus and the pars prostatica. Preliminary phylogenetic assessment suggests that these traits are plesiomorphic, and thus the species are basal to the rest of the Brachylaimidae, whose diagnosis we emend accordingly.     

A new macradeninine,Zebrasomatrema pichelinae n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Lecithasteridae), from tangs (Perciformes: Acanthuridae) off the southern Great Barrier Reef,Queensland, Australia

A new genus, Zebrasomatrema, with the type-species Z. pichelinae n. sp., is described from Zebrasoma veliferum at Heron and Lizard Islands, Queensland, Australia, and Z. scopas, Acanthurus lineatus and A. triostegus at Heron Island. The new genus shares with Acanthurotrema an anterior flange, 14 subglobular vitelline lobes, a divided seminal vesicle and a long aglandular duct joining the seminal vesicle and the short pars prostatica, but differs in its quadripartite seminal vesicle, single vitelline field, lack of a sinus-sac and excretory arms which unite in the forebody. This report constitutes the first record of a macradeninine lecithasterid in Australian waters. A key to the Macradenininae is presented.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Monticellia santafesina</Emphasis> n. sp. (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megalonema platanum</Emphasis> (Günther) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Paraná River basin,Argentina

The proteocephalidean tapeworm Monticellia santafesina n. sp. is described from the siluriform catfish Megalonema platanum (Günther) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) in the Paraná River basin, Argentina. The new species is allocated to Monticellia La Rue, 1911 (Proteocephalidae: Monticelliinae) because of the cortical position of the testes, ovary, vitelline follicles and uterus, a globular scolex without a metascolex and uniloculate suckers. The new species differs from all other species of Monticellia (except for M. lenha Woodland, 1933) in possessing a vaginal canal opening anterior or posterior to the cirrus-sac. M. santafesina can be distinguished from M. lenha by the following characteristics: a larger body size; a weakly developed internal longitudinal musculature arranged in 15–35 slim bundles of muscle fibres; vitelline follicles not interrupted at the level of the cirrus-sac and vaginal canal, and with a few paramuscular and/or medullary follicles; the absence of large spinitriches on the anterior margin of the suckers; and the utilisation of Megalonema platanum (in the Paraná River basin) as its host, rather than Sorubimichthys planiceps (Spix & Agassiz) (in the River Amazon). Monticellia santafesina exhibits low values of prevalence (9%) and intensity of infection (1). Megalonema platanum was parasitised by two proteocephalidean cestodes, Rudolphiella cf. lobosa (Riggenbach, 1895) and the new species described in this paper.     

Baiohelmins elegans n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Nanophyetidae) from the Australian water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster

A new genus and species of nanophyetid,Baiohelmins elegans, is described from the intestine of the Australian water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, 1804 in North Queensland. The new genus differs from previously described forms by the combination of the following characters: vitelline follicles restricted to a small group posterior to each testis, cirrus pouch present and caeca not extending posterior to the ventral sucker.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allassogonoporus dromiciops</Emphasis> n. sp. (Digenea: Allassogonoporidae) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dromiciops gliroides</Emphasis> (Marsupialia: Microbiotheriidae) in Patagonia,Argentina

A new species of Allassogonoporus Olivier, 1938, from a naturally infected specimen of Dromiciops gliroides, is described. Adults of A. dromiciops n. sp. were recovered from the small intestine. This new species can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by having: the largest body and eggs, a lobed testes and ovary, a Y-shaped excretory vesicle and vitelline follicles beginning at the level of the posterior margin of the oral sucker. This is the first record of a species of Allassogonoporus in South America and the first record of a digenean parasitising D. gliroides.     

Two new species of flukes (Digenea: Bucephalidae: Prosorhynchinae) from the Western Moray Gymnothorax woodwardi (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) from off Western Australia, with replacement of the pre-occupied generic name Folliculovarium Gu & Shen, 1983

Two new species of bucephalid trematodes are described from the rectum and intestine of the western moray eel Gymnothorax woodwardi McCulloch (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae: Muraeninae) off Point Peron in Western Australia. Dollfustrema gibsoni n. sp. is distinguished by body size, a pharynx that is intertesticular and level (latero-dextrally) with the anterior portion of the cirrus-sac, an ovary positioned dextrally to the testes and slightly anterior to (in part) the anterior testis, a uterus that extends anteriorly to the vitelline follicles but not to the level of the rhynchus, and vitelline follicles that form a confluent arc anterior to the gonads. Muraenicola nom. nov. is proposed as a replacement generic name for the pre-occupied Folliculovarium Gu & Shen 1983 nec Singh & Sinha 1981. Muraenicola botti n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners by body size, the size of the cirrus-sac (relative to body size), and in possessing tegumental spines, testes that are oblique (rather than in tandem) and eight ovarian lobes. It differs further in having an intestinal caecum that extends anteriorly to the level of the vitelline follicles and in the position of the pharynx and cirrus-sac relative to each other (lateral in part) as well as to the gonads. M. botti n. sp. also lacks a metraterm. These are the first reports of these genera from fishes off Australia and from the southern hemisphere.     

Macrourimegatrema gadoma n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from the doublethread grenadier Gadomus arcuatus (Goode & Bean) (Macrouridae) in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea

Macrourimegatrema gadoma n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae: Plagioporinae) is described from the pyloric caeca and intestine of the doublethread grenadier Gadomus arcuatus (Goode & Bean) (Macrouridae) collected from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and off Venezuela. The new species differs from Macrourimegatrema brayi Blend, Dronen & Armstrong, 2004, the type and only species in the genus, in the distribution of the vitelline follicles and gonads, a larger body size, and the presence of highly-folded caeca with numerous outpocketings or pouches. It is suggested that species of Macrourimegatrema Blend, Dronen & Armstrong, 2004 probably infect their piscine hosts through the ingestion of a benthopelagic crustacean.     

Zoogonidae (Digenea) from southern Great Barrier Reef fishes with a description of Steganoderma (Lecithostaphylus) gibsoni n. sp.

Two species of the Zoogonidae are recorded from Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Steganoderma (Lecithostaphylus) gibsoni n. sp. is described from the intestine of Abudefduf whitleyi (Pomacentridae). The new species is distinguished by the combination of the following: pedunculate ventral sucker, caeca extending well past testes, presence of two-chambered internal seminal vesicle, vitelline follicles extending only to anterior margin of testes, and testes close to ventral sucker. Zoogonus pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1939 is recorded from Lethrinus atkinsoni (Lethrinidae). This species has been recorded previously only from a sparid from Japan. A new combination, Steganoderma (Lecithostaphylus) fugus (Zhang, Qiu & Li, 1986), is made.     

Preptetos cannoni n. sp. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from Siganus lineatus (Teleostei: Siganidae) from the southern Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Preptetos cannoni n. sp. is described from Siganus lineatus from Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Morphological features that are diagnostic of this species include: a genital pore that is sinistral to the ventral sucker and vitelline follicles that reach anteriorly to at least the bifurcation of the intestine. This is the first report of a species of the genus Preptetos from Australian waters and from fishes of the genus Siganus.     

Steganoderma (Steganoderma) valchetensis n. sp. (Digenea: Zoogonidae) from the relict fish Gymnocharacinus bergi (Osteichthyes: Characidae) in Argentina

A new species of Steganoderma (Steganoderma) (Digenea: Zoogonidae) was found in the digestive tract of the southernmost, endemic and scale-less characid, Gymnocharacinus bergi, inhabiting thermal headwaters of the Valcheta Creek in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Steganoderma valchetensis n. sp. is included in the subgenus Steganoderma because of having a sessile ventral sucker and caeca reaching to the testes. This new species can be distinguished from other species of this genus on the basis of body-length, sucker-ratio, the length of the cirrus-sac, the morphology of the seminal vesicle and gonads, and the location of the vitelline follicles and genital pore. The taxonomic status of the species of Steganoderma, parasitising the freshwater fishes of Patagonia, in southern Argentina, and Chile, is also discussed.     

Dicrocoeliidae (Trematoda: Digenea) of Australian mammals with description of Dicrocoelium antechini n. sp., Athesmioides aiolos n. g., n. sp. and Platynosomum burrman n. sp.

Dicrocoelium antechini n. sp. is described from the bile ducts of Antechinus swainsonii and A. stuartii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) from New South Wales. The species differs from all others in the genus in that the caecal bifurcation is well posterior to the ventral sucker and testes. Athesmioides aiolos n. g., n. sp. is described from Rattus fuscipes and R. lutreolus from New South Wales and from R. norvegicus, R. lutreolus and Pseudomys higginsi from Tasmania (all Rodentia: Muridae). The genus Athesmioides is characterised by the presence of unilateral vitelline follicles and an undivided caecum. Platynosomum burrman n. sp. is described from Isoodon macrourus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae) from the Northern Territory. It differs from other species in a combination of characters regarding the shape of the forebody, the arrangement of the gonads, the disposition of the uterus and the size of the eggs. The taxonomic status of Platynosomum australiense (Sandars, 1958), Brachylecithum insulare Angel & Pearson, 1977 and Brachylecithum hydromyos Angel & Pearson, 1977 are summarised. Records are presented of undescribed dicrocoeliids from the marsupials Petaurus breviceps, Planigale maculata and Dasyurus hallucatus and the murids Rattus fuscipes and Melomys sp.     

Petasiger oschmarini n. sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) in the grebes Podiceps grisegena (Bod.) and P. auritus (L.) (Aves: Podicipedidae) from Kamchatka,Russia

A re-examination of three sets of trematodes collected in two species of grebes, Podiceps grisegena and P. auritus, from the Kamchatka region of eastern Russia, previously identified as Petasiger neocomense, revealed that they actually represent a new species, which is named Petasiger oschmarini. Characteristic morphological features of the new species include: a head collar possessing a constant number of 19 spines; a large cirrus-sac comparable in size to the ventral sucker, containing a bipartite seminal vesicle and a well-developed pars prostatica; a large bulb-like cirrus similar in size to the testes; a long forebody; a long oesophagus; testes situated obliquely or symmetrically; and lateral vitelline fields which are not confluent in the forebody. The new species is distinguished from all Palaearctic and Nearctic members of Petasiger which possess 19 collar spines. The material described by Oschmarin (1950) as P. neocomense is considered to be conspecific.     

Lepocreadiid (Digenea) species from members of the marine teleost family Cheilodactylidae from south-western Australia, including four new genera and five new species

The following lepocreadiid species are described from Cheilodactylidae from south-western Australia. Cliveus peroni n. g., n. sp. from Nemadactylus valenciennesi is characterised by its attenuated forebody and C. acaenodera n. sp. from Dactylophora nigricans by its attenuated forebody, the pattern of forebody spination and the large cirrus-sac. Jericho chojeri n. g., n. sp. from N. valenciennesi has a large infundibuliform oral sucker and paired ani. Rugocavum n. g. is distinguished by the possession of a blind, wrinkled glandular pit on the postero-ventral surface of the forebody. R. nemadactyli n. sp. from N. valenciennesi has its vitelline field restricted to the hindbody, whereas in R. morwong n. sp. from N. valenciennesi the vitelline field reaches into the forebody. Paraneocreadium australiense Kruse, 1978 from N. valenciennesi is redescribed and its coiled internal seminal vesicle and lobed gonads are considered distinctive features. Scaphatrema nemadactyli (Kurochkin & Korotaeva, 1972) n. g., n. comb. from N. valenciennesi has a wrinkled, boat-shaped body, a Lepidapedon-like cirrus-sac and multiple testes; it was originally placed in the genus Multitestis, but these characters suggest that a new genus should be erected for it within the subfamily Lepidapedinae.     

Two new species of Acanthobothrium Beneden, 1849 (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) from horn sharks in the Gulf of California,Mexico

Between 1993 and 1996, 26 individuals of two species of horn sharks were collected from the upper Gulf of California and their spiral intestines examined for onchobothriid tapeworms. Heterodontus francisci was found to host Acanthobothrium puertecitense n. sp. Based on the criteria of Ghoshroy & Caira (2001), this is a Category 4 species (with >15mm total length, >50 proglottids, >80 testes and a symmetrical ovary). It differs from the four Category 4 species previously reported from either the western Atlantic or eastern Pacific Oceans, including A. bajaense (emend.) which was described from H. francisci, in hook-shape, total length, number of proglottids, number of testes and number of columns of vitelline follicles. H. mexicanus was found to host Acanthobothrium santarosaliense n. sp., which, based on the criteria of Ghoshroy & Caira (2001) is a Category 3 species (with >15mm total length, >50 proglottids, >80 testes and an asymmetrical ovary). A. santarosaliense differs from the five Category 3 species previously reported from either the western Atlantic or eastern Pacific Oceans in its size, euapolytic nature, lack of dark matrix from the bases of the hooks, hook-shape, and distribution and number of testes. In addition to the difference in ovarian symmetry, A. puertecitense possesses fewer testes, fewer proglottids, is a shorter worm, possesses a more anterior genital pore and vitelline follicles which extend further forward anteriorly than in A. santarosaliense. This represents the first report of onchobothriids from H. mexicanus and the first report of onchobothriids from H. francisci in the Gulf of California. The apparent host-specificity of both new species should be viewed with caution until a greater sample of host individuals of both species can be examined. The fact that both new tapeworm species are known only from the Gulf is also considered to be a preliminary result, given the small sample of host individuals examined from these regions to date. This brings the total number of species of Heterodontus known to host Acanthobothrium to four and the total number of Acanthobothrium species described from heterodontiform sharks to five.