Haliotrema cupensis n. sp. (Monogenea, Ancyrocephalidae) from a marine gobiid (Teleostei, Perciformes) of the Mediterranean coast

We describe a new ancyrocephalid monogenean, Haliotrema cupensis n. sp., from a marine gobiid, Gobius cobitis (Pallas) from the Mediterranean Sea. This species differs from the other members of the genus by the morphology of the penis and accessory piece, the haptoral ornamentation and by possessing a larger testis. This is the first report of an ancyrocephalid on a marine gobiid and of a Haliotrema species in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Early development of the endangered freshwater goby, Rhinogobius sp. BI (Gobiidae)

The early development of the endangered freshwater goby, Rhinogobius sp. BI (ogasawara-yoshinobori in Japanese), was described in the course of a serial rearing experiment over generations as ex situ preservation. The eggs, measuring 2.0 mm in long diameter and 0.7 mm in short diameter, were elliptical with a colorless transparent chorion, a slightly yellowish yolk, and some oil globules. Hatching occurred naturally at 6 to 7 days after spawning at 24.0°C. Newly hatched larvae, measuring 3.2–3.4 mm in total length (TL), had opened mouth and a globular yolk sac. The yolk was completely absorbed at 3.5 mm TL (5 days after hatching). Notochord flexion initiated at 5.7 mm TL (18 days) and finished at <9.1 mm TL (30 days). First dorsal fin began to form in postflexion larvae at 10.0 mm TL (40 days), and a full complement was attained at 11.6 mm TL (45 days). Second dorsal fin emerged at 5.7 mm TL (18 days); full count was attained and segmentation initiated at 9.1 mm TL (30 days). Anal fin anlage appeared at 5.7 mm TL (18 days); its ray count was completed and segmentation initiated at 9.1 mm TL (30 days), and branching at 15.6 mm TL (60 days). Caudal fin support appeared at 4.5 mm TL (15 days); segmentation initiated at 6.0 mm TL (24 days) and branching at 10.0 mm TL (40 days). Fanlike pectoral fin present in newly hatched larvae. Pectoral fin rays appeared at 10.0 mm TL (40 days), and its ray count completed at 15.6 mm TL (60 days). Pelvic fin projected at 9.1 mm TL (30 days), and a sucking disc partially formed at 11.6 mm TL (45 days). Aggregate numbers of all fin rays were completed at 15.6 mm TL in 60 days after hatching. Pelagic period continued for about 40 days, and settlement was completed in postflexion larvae at 45 days.     

Neotropical Monogenoidea: Euryhaliotrema dontykoleos n. sp. (Dactylogyridae) from the gills of the freshwater sciaenid, Pachyurus junki (Perciformes)

Euryhaliotrema dontykoleos n. sp. (Monogenoidea, Polyonchoinea, Dactylogyridae) is described based on specimens collected from the gills of Pachyurus junki (Teleostei, Sciaenidae, Pachyurinae) in the Rio Tocantins and its tributaries, State of Tocantins, Brazil. The new species, the first species of Monogenoidea reported from a pachyurine, is easily differentiated from its congener by the presence of toothlike projections in the border of the vaginal opening and by having a trapezoidal anteromedial projection on the ventral bar. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the new species is not a member of the clade that includes the Euryhaliotrema spp. from Plagioscion spp., a second lineage of freshwater sciaenids in South America. Euryhaliotrema dontykoleos shares an immediate ancestor with the clade formed by parasites infecting marine Paralonchurus spp., (Sciaenidae), and those of Plagioscion spp.     

Pseudorhabdosynochus venus n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Epinephelus howlandi (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia

Pseudorhabdosynochus venus n. sp. is described from specimens collected from the gills of Epinephelus howlandi off Nouméa, New Caledonia, South Pacific. The male sclerotised quadriloculate organ of P. venus, 61-101 microm in internal length, has an anterior chamber with a thin anterior wall, a very short cone and a short posterior tube. The sclerotised vagina, 50-67 microm in total length, is composed of an anterior open trumpet, an S-shaped canal, a tear-shaped principal chamber and a spherical accessory chamber; all parts are heavily sclerotised. The two squamodiscs have 10-11 rows of separate rodlets and no central closed row of rodlets. P. venus is differentiated from all other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus by the spectacular morphology of its sclerotised vagina. It is the first diplectanid described from E. howlandi.     

Laticola dae n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Epinephelus maculatus (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia

Laticola dae n. sp. is described from specimens collected from the gill-filaments of the highfin grouper Epinephelus maculatus, a coral reef fish caught off Nouméa, New Caledonia, South Pacific. The species is characterised by a spoon-shaped sclerotised male copulatory organ, with four thin walls and 73–m in outer length, and a sclerotised vagina in form of a disc, 16–m in diameter, with a smaller hemisphere on one side. Laticola Yang et al., 2006 was described to accommodate diplectanids from Lates calcarifer (Centropomidae); this is the first Laticola described from a serranid. Other diplectanids, including several species of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958, were also found on the same species of fish; specimens of L. dae represented about half of the diplectanids collected; all other species were rare.

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Résumé Laticola dae n. sp. est décrit à partir de spécimens collectés sur les filaments branchiaux de la loche grisette, Epinephelus maculatus, un poisson de récif corallien pêché au large de Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie, Pacifique Sud. L’espèce est caractérisée par un organe copulateur mâle sclérifié en forme de cuiller, avec quatre parois fines, long de 73–m, et un vagin sclérifié en forme de disque, de diamètre 16–m, avec un hémisphère plus petit d’un côté. Laticola Yang et al., 2006 a été décrit pour rassembler des Diplectanidae de Lates calcarifer (Centropomidae) ; ceci est le premier Laticola décrit d’un Serranidae. D’autres Diplectanidae, y compris plusieurs espèces de Pseudorhabdosynochus, ont aussi été trouvés chez ce poisson ; les spécimens de L. dae représentaient environ la moitié des Diplectanidae récoltés, toutes les autres espèces étaient rares.

     

Pseudorhabdosynochus venus n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Epinephelus howlandi (Perciformes: Serranidae) off New Caledonia

Pseudorhabdosynochus venus n. sp. is described from specimens collected from the gills of Epinephelus howlandi off Nouméa, New Caledonia, South Pacific. The male sclerotised quadriloculate organ of P. venus, 61–101 μm in internal length, has an anterior chamber with a thin anterior wall, a very short cone and a short posterior tube. The sclerotised vagina, 50–67 μm in total length, is composed of an anterior open trumpet, an S-shaped canal, a tear-shaped principal chamber and a spherical accessory chamber; all parts are heavily sclerotised. The two squamodiscs have 10–11 rows of separate rodlets and no central closed row of rodlets. P. venus is differentiated from all other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus by the spectacular morphology of its sclerotised vagina. It is the first diplectanid described from E. howlandi.

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Résumé Pseudorhabdosynochus venus n. sp. est décrit à partir de spécimens collectés sur les branchies de Epinephelus howlandi, pêché au large de Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie, Pacifique Sud. L’organe tétraloculé sclérifié mâle de P. venus (longueur interne 61–101 μm), possède une chambre antérieure avec une fine paroi antérieure, un cône très court, et un tube postérieur court. Le vagin sclérifié, long de 50–67 μm, est composé d’une trompette antérieure ouverte, d’un canal en S, d’une chambre principale en larme, et d’une chambre accessoire sphérique; toutes les parties sont fortement sclérifiées. Les deux squamodisques ont 10–11 rangées d’osselets séparés, sans rangée centrale fermée. P. venus se différencie de toutes les autres espèces de Pseudorhabdosynochus par la morphologie spectaculaire de son vagin sclérifié. Il s’agit du premier Diplectanidae décrit chez E. howlandi.

     

Duplaccessorius andinus n. gen., n. sp. (Dactylogyridae: Ancyrocephalinae) from the gills of Percichthys trucha (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) in Patagonia, Argentina

During a parasitological survey of Patagonian freshwater fishes, specimens of a new species of Monogenea were collected from the gills of Percichthys trucha (Perciformes: Percichthyidae). This species is described as the only member of a newly proposed genus of Ancyrocephalinae. Duplaccessorius n. gen. (Dactylogyridae, Ancyrocephalinae) is characterized by hooks with 2 subunits, gonads in tandem, a coiled male copulatory organ with counterclockwise rings, an accessory piece formed by 2 distinct parts, and a nonsclerotized sinistrolateral vagina with a funnel shape vestibule. Duplaccessorius andinus n. sp. infects the gills of P. trucha (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1840) from Andean Patagonian lakes, being the first species of Ancyrocephalinae described from a South American percichthyid.     

Monogeneans from the gills of glassfishes (Teleostei: Perciformes: Ambassidae) in India, with the proposal of Chandacleidus n. g. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae)

Chandacleidus n. g. (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) is proposed to include three species collected from the gills of Indian glassfishes (Ambassidae): Chandacleidus recurvatus (Jain, 1961) n. comb. (syn. Urocleidus recurvatus Jain, 1961) from Chanda nama and C. ranga (new host record) is redescribed; and Chandacleidus saiensis n. sp. and C. lucknowensis n. sp., both from Chanda nama and C. baculis, are described. Chandacleidus n. g. is characterised by species possessing: posteriorly united intestinal caeca; overlapping gonads (testis dorsal to ovary); a counterclockwise male copulatory organ; a grooved accessory piece; a dextro-marginal vaginal pore; a haptor with two lateral flaps and armed with dissimilar dorsal and ventral anchor/bar complexes and 14 similar hooks (dissimilar in size); and hook shanks comprised of two subunits.     

A new genus for Diplectanum setosum Nagibina, 1976 (Monogenea: Dipletanidae), a parasite of Psammoperca waigiensis (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Latidae) from Okinawa-jima Island,Japan

Systematic Parasitology - The diplectanid monogenean Diplectanum setosum Nagibina, 1976 is redescribed based on newly collected specimens from Psammoperca waigiensis (Cuvier) (Perciformes: Latidae)...     

Pauciconfibula subsolana n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) from Morone americana (Perciformes: Percichthyidae) collected in fresh water in New Brunswick, Canada.

Pauciconfibula subsolana n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) is proposed for parasites found on the inner surface of the operculum of Morone americana collected in the freshwater reaches of the Saint John River, near Mactaquac, New Brunswick. Pauciconfibula subsolana is differentiated from other species in the genus by the 2 posterolateral clamp sclerites, each of which is composed of 2 distinct sections, and by the absence of appendages on the eggs. An amended generic diagnosis is provided for Pauciconfibula. Pseudoaspinatrium Mamaev, 1986, is considered a junior synonym of Pauciconfibula Dillon and Hargis, 1965, and the species previously assigned to Pseudoaspinatrium are transferred to Pauciconfibula as Pauciconfibula euzeti (Ktari, 1971) n. comb., Pauciconfibula gallieni (Euzet and Ktari, 1971) n. comb., and Pauciconfibula pogoniae (MacCallum, 1913) n. comb.     

Kritskyia moraveci n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from the urinary bladder and ureters of Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Pisces: Pimelodidae) in Brazil

Kritskyia n. g. is proposed for K. moraveci n. sp. from the urinary bladder and ureters of Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), a pimelodid fish from the reservoir of the Hydroelectric Power Station of Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The new genus is most closely related to Acolpenteron Fischthal & Allison, 1940, from which it differs by having a male copulatory complex composed of a coiled cirrus and a bipartite accessory piece, a sinistral vagina, and an antero-ventrally concave haptor which possesses 14 ventrally directed marginal hooks, but lacks an anterior rim and 4A hooks.Research fellow Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, CNPq, Brasil.     

Pseudorhabdosynochus argus n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from Cephalopholis argus, P. minutus n. sp. and Diplectanum nanus n. sp. from C. sonnerati and other monogeneans from Cephalopholis spp. (Perciformes: Serranidae) off Australia and New Caledonia

Monogeneans from three species of Cephalopholis, namely C. argus, C. sonnerati and C. boenak, are described from fish caught off New Caledonia, South Pacific, with comparisons with material from off Queensland, Australia. Pseudorhabdosynochus argus n. sp. from C. argus is present off New Caledonia and Australia; it is characterised by its male quadriloculate organ with very elongate cone, and its sclerotised vagina with anterior trumpet, coiled primary canal and distal part with two chambers and an accessory part. C. boenak has no monogeneans off New Caledonia, but off Australia it harbours Pseudorhabdosynochus sp., a new species which is morphologically related to P. argus. P. minutus n. sp. from C. sonnerati is characterised by its minute body and a sclerotised vagina with two spherical chambers. Diplectanum nanus n. sp. from C. sonnerati is characterised by its very small funnel-shaped male copulatory organ and minute body. A new species, Haliotrema sp. from C. sonnerati is characterised by a very elongate tubular penis; it is distinct from H. cromileptis Young, 1968 (redescribed herein from specimens collected from Cromileptes altivelis off New Caledonia). The species described here include the first members of Pseudorhabdosynochus and the first diplectanids described from species of Cephalopholis. There is no evidence for a clade of Pseudorhabdosynochus species specific to members of Cephalopholis, since the species described here share similarities with other species from Epinephelus. However, it is suggested that the gill structure of Cephalopholis spp. imposes selection toward small body sizes for monogeneans.     

A new reefgoby,Priolepis duostella (Perciformes: Gobiidae) collected from off Kashiwa-jima Island,Kochi, Japan

Priolepis duostella sp. nov. (Perciformes: Gobiidae) is described based on a single specimen of 28.8 mm in standard length collected from an artificial reef released established for 2.5 years in ca. 100 m depth off Kashiwa-jima Island, Kochi, southern Japan. Within the three species grades of the genus, the new species is included in the “Priolepis profunda” grade, characterized by the presence of predorsal scales and well-developed transverse papillae rows on the cheek. The new species can be clearly distinguished from congeners by its distinctive coloration, including two black blotches, each crossed by a vertical white stripe, on the caudal fin, four white stripes on the head, and six white bars on body, the second bar curved, continuous with the anteriormost diagonal stripe on the first dorsal fin, the third bar bent at the middle, originating on the second dorsal-fin origin, and the fourth bar curved. Although most similar in coloration to Priolepis akihitoi Hoese and Larson 2010, the new species can be distinguished from the latter by the following: a large eye, its diameter 31.4% of head length (HL) (vs. 26.1–30.3), a wide interorbital space, its width 10.9% HL (vs. 5.3–7.8), six bars on the body, second to fourth curve or bent (vs. eight, all straight), black blotches on the lower caudal fin (vs. absent), and three anterior transverse interorbital papillae (ATI) (vs. one or two); and four or five posterior transverse interorbital papillae (PTI) (vs. one or two).

     

A record of the archerfish (Toxotes jaculator) from Iriomote Island,the Ryukyu Islands

A specimen ofToxotes jaculator (Pallas, 1767) (Pisces: Toxotidae) was collected from the mouth of Urauchi River (24°23′55″N, 123°46′48″E), Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. This species was recorded for the first time from the Japanese Archipelago. Its occurrence in Japan is the northern-most record of this species.     

Pseudodactylogyrus kamegaii sp. n. (Monogenea: Pseudodactylogyridae) from wild Japanese eel,Anguilla japonica

The monogenean Pseudodactylogyrus kamegaii sp. n. is described, based on specimens collected from the gills of wild Japanese eel Anguilla japonica caught in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. This species is the most similar to P. anguillae (Yin and Sproston, 1948), but different in the shape and measurements of the male copulatory organ, vagina and marginal hook. This new species was collected from the eel in brackish waters, while P. anguillae and P. bini, the other known pseudodactylogyrids of Japanese eel, have been recorded only in fresh waters.