Neoechinorhynchus qatarensis sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from the blue-barred flame parrot fish,Scarus ghobban Forsskål, 1775, in Qatari waters of the Arabian Gulf

Neoechinorhynchus qatarensis sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from the marine blue-barred flame parrot fish Scarus ghobban Forssk?l, 1775 in the Arabian Gulf waters off the coast of Qatar. The new species is distinguished from all other species of the genus Neoechinorhynchus by its unique reproductive system and a glandular structure associated with the proboscis receptacle in both males and females. Other uncommon features of N. qatarensis are also discussed.     

The reproductive biology of Lutjanus fulviflamma (Forsskål,1775) (Pisces: Lutjanidae) in Kenyan inshore marine waters

The testicular and ovarian maturation cycle of thedory snapper, Lutjanus fulviflamma(Forsskål) (Osteichthyes:Lutjanidae), acommercially valuable species in the western IndianOcean, is described macroscopically. The ovary wasalso studied microscopically. L. fulviflammahas one prolonged spawning season which begins fromNovember/December, lasting till April/May. Discontinuous spawning is established by (i) temporalvariation in the relative weight of testis andovaries, (ii) a seasonal occurrence of various maturitystages and, (iii) a seasonal occurrence of developingfish in the samples. Using volumetric andhistological techniques, the fecundity of this specieswas determined at 51,000 to 460,000 (mean: 167,000)oocytes in fish of between 17 to 30 cm total length,respectively. Oocyte recrudescence in the ovary isasyncronous, but the number and size of batches ofeggs released in a single spawning season are yet tobe determined.     

Ultrastructural aspects and molecular phylogeny of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Auerbachia maamouni</Emphasis> n. sp. (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) from the gallbladder of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gnathanodon speciosus</Emphasis> Forsskål (Actinopterygii: Carangidae) in the Red Sea

A new myxosporean parasite, Auerbachia maamouni n. sp., infecting the gallbladder of the golden trevally Gnathanodon speciosus Forsskål, is described, based on morphology, ultrastructure, and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequencing. Of 50 fish collected from the Red Sea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, five were found heavily infected with mature myxospores floating free in the bile. Mature spores are pyriform to club-shaped with smooth valves, and contain a single polar capsule with an S-shaped polar filament, arranged in 13–16 polar filament coils, oriented longitudinally, with an irregular distribution on the polar capsule matrix. Spores measure 15.8 (14–17) μm in total length in lateral view, 7.9 (6–9) μm in width in apical view, with spore body length of 6.2 ± 0.4 (5–7) µm. The ellipsoidal polar capsule has two adjusted lateral folds 7.6 (6–8) µm long and 2 (2–3) µm wide. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus based on spore morphometry and molecular data. The phylogenetic tree constructed using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analysis of SSU rDNA sequence data supported the phylogenetic position of A. maamouni n. sp. among the species of Auerbachia Meglitsch, 1968 sequenced to date. Analysis of the SSU rDNA sequence data also supported the assumption that Auerbachia is closely related to members of the genera Coccomyxa Léger & Hesse, 1907, Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910 and Myxidium Bütschli, 1882, whose members inhabit the gallbladder of marine teleost fishes.     

Four new monorchiids from the golden trevally,Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål) (Perciformes: Carangidae), in Moreton Bay,Australia

Systematic Parasitology - Four new monorchiid trematodes are reported from Moreton Bay, Australia; three new species of Provitellus Dove &amp; Cribb, 1998 and one species of Ovipusillus Dove...     

Pseudanuretes anfoozi n. sp. (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae) from the yellowbar angelfish Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål) in coral reefs off Iraq

Systematic Parasitology - A new species of Pseudanuretes Yamaguti, 1936 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on the gills of the yellowbar angelfish Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål) from a coral...     

Two species of Dioncopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1965 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) from Naso unicornis (Forsskål) (Acanthuridae) and Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus (Coryphaenidae) in western Japan,with a description of D. elongata n. sp. from N. unicornis

Systematic Parasitology - Three species of Dioncopseudobenedenia Yamaguti, 1965 (Monogenea: Capsalidae: Benedeniinae) have been described, all found parasitising Naso spp. (Acanthuridae) and...     

First record of the Lessepsian fish Siganus rivulatus (Forsskål & Niebuhr, 1775) in the Sea of Marmara (Izmit Bay,Turkey)

The marbled spinefoot, Siganus rivulatus (Forsskål&Niebuhr, 1775) was recorded for the first time in Izmit Bay, Sea of Marmara. One specimen was caught on 30 September 2019 by a small scale fisherman at depth of 25 m. The fish measured 151 mm in total length and weighted of 43.45 g. S. rivulatus is one of the Lessepsian immigrants who entered the Mediterranean more than half a century ago, and has now also easily adapted to the Sea of Marmara, which has a unique two-layered water system.     

Karyakartia egyptensis n. sp. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from the Jarbua terapon, Terapon jarbua (Forsskål) (Perciformes: Terapontidae), from the Red Sea and emendation of Karyakartia

Karyakartia egyptensis n. sp. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae: Lepocreadiinae) is described from the intestine of the Jarbua terapon, Terapon jarbua (Forssk?l), collected from the Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. Karyakartia egyptensis n. sp. differs from K. pambanense in that the former species possesses larger spiniform structures around the perimeter of the mouth (48-54 microm as compared with 25-30 microm), a uroproct rather than ceca that end blindly or form a cyclocoel, and a somewhat smaller egg (60-68 microm as compared with 70-73 microm).     

Synopsis of the species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida)

A synopsis of the species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882 (Myxozoa: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) is presented. It includes a total of 232 nominal species, whose principal morphological and morphometric characteristics, site of infection within the host, and original hosts and locality are indicated in a tabulated format. A diagrammatic illustration of a spore of most of the species is also provided.     

Thelohanellus bicornei n. sp. Myxosporidie (Myxosporea,Bivalvulida) a gill parasite of Labeo coubie Rüppel, 1832 (Osteichthyen,Cyprinidae) from Burkina Faso,West Africa

Thelohanellus bicornei n. sp. (Myxosporea, Bivalvulida) is described from gill of Labeo coubie (Rüppel, 1832) (Osteichthyen, Cyprinidae) in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The cysts are small and their length is 150 to 350 microns. White, linked together they are rounded shape. The spores are ovoids with smooth valvar surface. Their posterior end is rounded and their anterior part shows two "horns like" expansions. Spores measured 13.5 +/- 0.56 (13-14) microns in length and 8.43 +/- 0.49 (8-9) microns in width. Horns length is 1 to 1.5 microns long. Polar capsule is piriform, it's length is 7.24 +/- 0.45 microns and the width 3.75 +/- 0.32 microns. The polar filament formed 10 turns.     

Helicometra boseli Nagaty, 1956 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) in Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål) (Beryciformes: Holocentridae) from New Caledonian waters with a review of the Helicometra spp. in holocentrids

The species Helicometra boseli Nagaty, 1956 is redescribed from the holocentrid Sargocentron spiniferum (Forsskål) off New Caledonia. It is characterised by a short forebody, long cirrus-sac, reaching well into the hindbody, and undulating lateral margins. Stenopera rectisaccus Fischthal & Kuntz, 1964 is considered a synonym. The status of the four species of Helicometra Odhner, 1902 from holocentrids is discussed. Three of the Helicometra species reported from holocentrids exhibit characteristics used to erect the genus Stenopera Manter, 1933, which is currently considered a junior synonym of Helicometra.     

Description of the oöcysts of Eimeria whitakeri n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from least shrews,Cryptotis parva (Insectivora: Soricidae)

Oöcysts of Eimeria whitakeri n. sp. are described from the faeces of the least shrew, Cryptotis parva (Insectivora: Soricidae), from Texas, USA. The oöcysts are spherical to subspherical, 17.4 × 16.4 (15–19 × 13–18.5) μm, with a bi-layered wall; their shape-index (length/width) is 1.1 (1.0–1.2). A micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a large polar granule is present. The sporocysts are ovoidal, 11.2 × 7.5 (9.5–12 × 6.5–8) μm, with Stieda and substieda bodies; their shape-index is 1.5 (1.4–1.6). The sporozoites each possess both anterior and posterior refractile bodies.     

Relatedness of novel species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882, Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910 and Ellipsomyxa Køie, 2003 (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) from the gall bladders of marine fishes (Teleostei) from Australian waters

During a parasitological survey, Myxidium-like spores were identified in the gall bladders of marine fishes from Australian waters. This paper describes four novel species of Ellipsomyxa Køie, 2003, three novel species of Myxidium Bütschli, 1882 and six novel species of Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910 from teleosts from Australian waters using a combination of morphological, biological and molecular characters. Phylogenetic analyses showed a monophyletic relationship of all Ellipsomyxa spp. sequences with Sigmomyxa sphaerica (Thélohan, 1895) and Myxidium queenslandicus Gunter & Adlard, 2008 as sister species to the clade. The validity of genus Sigmomyxa Karlsbakk & Køie, 2012 is discussed. In phylogenetic analyses, the novel species of Myxidium fell within the ‘marine’ clade of Fiala (2006). However, the novel species of Zschokkella fell within the ‘freshwater’ clade of Fiala (2006) and formed a distinct clade with all other sequences of Zschokkella spp. from the gall bladder of marine fish and a sequence of a species of Myxobolus Bütschli 1882, also from the gall bladder of a marine fish. This is the second distinct marine lineage to emerge within the freshwater clade.     

Description of the oöcysts of Eimeria beccari n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Varanus prasinus beccari (Reptilia: Varanidae)

Eimeria beccari n. sp. is described from the faecal contents of Varanus prasinus beccari (Reptilia: Varanidae), originally from the Aru Islands northwest of New Guinea. Oöcysts are cylindroid, 33.7 × 19.1 (29–36 × 18–21) µm, often with one end narrowing; shape index (length/width) 1.76 (1.6–1.9). A micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent but a polar granule is present in most oöcysts. Sporocysts are ellipsoid, 12.0 × 7.7 (11–13.5 × 7–8) µm; shape index 1.56 (1.5–1.7). Stieda and substieda bodies are absent. Sporozoites are elongate, 10.4 × 2.8 (9–12 × 2.5–3) µm, and contain a posterior refractile body.     

Henneguya polarislonga n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) parasitizing Astyanax lacustris (Lütken, 1875) with an insight on its life cycle

Henneguya polarislonga n. sp. is described from the gills of Astyanax lacustris (Lütken, 1875) (Characiformes, Characidae) from streams of the Middle Paranapanema River, Upper Paraná River basin, in the São Paulo State, Brazil. The proposed new species is supported by a combination of morphological and molecular characterization (partial fragment of the SSU rDNA). Thirty specimens of A. lacustris were analyzed and myxospores were found in the gill lamellae of one specimen (Prevalence = 3.3%). Henneguya polarislonga n. sp. was morphometrically and genetically distinct from other Henneguya spp. previously described in Astyanax spp., mainly differing in the total length and caudal appendages length of the mature myxospores. Comparative analysis of the SSU rDNA sequences revealed that Seisactinomyxon-type actinospores previously reported parasitizing oligochaetes are developmental stages of the life cycle of Henneguya polarislonga n. sp. (similarity of 99.9%). This is the first time that an actinospore and a myxospore are correlated through molecular analysis in Brazil, contributing to the knowledge of the myxozoan ecology and biodiversity.     

Characterization of Two Substocks of Penaeus kerathurus (Forskål, 1775) Using the Life-History Parameters

Russian Journal of Marine Biology - The growth parameters were determined separately for the two sexes of Penaeus kerathurus, as well as for the two (northeastern and southern) substocks of the...     

Otobothrium muscatense n. sp. (Trypanorhyncha: Otobothriidae) from Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål) (Sparidae), with new locality records of larval trypanorhynchs off the Sultanate of Oman

Systematic Parasitology - In the evaluation of the larval trypanorhynch fauna off the Sultanate of Oman, a total of 188 bony fishes belonging to 16 species were studied, which led to the...