Callorhynchocotyle hydrolagi n. sp. (Monogenea: Hexabothriidae) from Hydrolagus ogilbyi (Chimaeriformes: Chimaeridae) in the South Pacific

Callorhynchocotyle hydrolagi n. sp. is proposed for hexabothriids found on the gills of the ghost shark, Hydrolagus ogilbyi, taken off the coast of southeastern Australia. The species is distinguished from the three previously described species of the genus in that the sclerites and the points of the sclerites of the three sucker pairs are all of similar size. The greater thickness of the sucker sclerites, the hamuli with inflated, almost spherical terminations of the roots, and the robust male copulatory complex also serve to differentiate C. hydrolagi.     

Calicotyle urolophi n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from stingarees,Urolophus spp. (Elasmobranchii: Urolophidae) taken in coastal waters of Southern Australia

Calicotyle urolophi n. sp. is proposed for calicotylines found in the cloaca of three stingaree species, Urolophus cruciatus, U. bucculentus and U. paucimaculatus, collected off the southeastern coast of Tasmania. Variations in the soft body parts were observed between specimens taken from U. cruciatus and U. bucculentus but were not considered sufficient for separation into two species. C. urolophi is differentiated from other Calicotyle spp. found in the South Pacific by the configuration of the tubular male copulatory organ, the structure of the intestinal caeca and the arrangement of the vaginae. Amended diagnoses for the subfamily Calicotylinae and the genus Calicotyle are provided.     

New monogeneans from the bathydemersal southern African endemic catshark,Holohalaelurus regani (Gilchrist, 1922)

The catshark genus Holohalaelurus Fowler is currently represented by five species distributed off the southern and eastern parts of the African coast. Very few parasitological records exist for any of these five species, representing a significant knowledge gap. We report the first monogenean species from the bathydemersal species Holohalaelurus regani (Gilchrist): a new species of Microbothriidae Price, 1936, Leptomicrobothrium holohalaelure n. sp. from the dorsal skin surface, and a new species of Hexabothriidae Price, 1942 representing a new genus, Scyliorhinocotyle narvaezae n. gen., n. sp., from the gill lamellae. Both monogenean records represent the first for any member of the catshark genus Holohalaelurus. Previously we focused on the identification of monogenean taxa of emerging veterinary importance for public aquaria. We now begin a focused effort to document a generally unexplored monogenean biodiversity from diverse marine habitats off South Africa.

     

Cardicola aurata sp. n. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from Mediterranean Sparus aurata L. (Teleostei: Sparidae) and its unexpected phylogenetic relationship with Paradeontacylix McIntosh, 1934

A new sanguinicolid trematode, Cardicola aurata sp. n., is described from gilthead seabream Sparus aurata L., from off the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The morphology of C. aurata sp. n. generally agrees with the diagnosis of the genus, however, in contrast to all other reported Cardicola spp. the male pore is located sub-medially at the posterior end of the body instead of sinistrally before the posterior end of the body. Based on a comparison of the morphology as well as partial 28S and ITS2 rDNA sequence data from the present species with that from closely related species, it was decided to emend the diagnosis of Cardicola rather than create a new genus, as the aberrant position of the male pore is likely to be an autapomorphy. The phylogenetic analyses revealed a close relationship between Cardicola and Paradeontacylix, two genera with considerable morphological differences; C. aurata sp. n. occupies a position intermediate to these genera. Thus, a morphological comparison of Cardicola, Paradeontacylix and Braya, a genus which is morphologically similar to Cardicola but clusters basal to the Cardicola/Paradeontacylix clade, was conducted. The results of this comparison showed that despite large differences with regard to body shape, the organisation of the internal organs is very similar in species of Cardicola and Paradeontacylix. The synopsis of morphological data and molecular phylogeny allows for interpretations regarding the importance of different morphological features for the phylogenetic inference of the Sanguinicolidae.     

A new species of Vanbenedenia Malm, 1860 (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) from the Southern Indian Ocean

A rare find of the elusive genus Vanbenedenia off the south-eastern coast of South Africa on a Hydrolagus sp. proved to be an as yet undescribed species. Vanbenedenia hydrolagae n. sp. differs from the three other species of the genus by virtue of the relative length of the second maxillae, the absence of multiple setae on the exopod of the first maxilla and the bifid nature of the sclerotised hook and sub-terminal seta of the maxilliped. SEM micrographs provided information on the mouth-cone.     

Saturnius minutus n. sp. and S. dimitrovi n. sp. (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from Mugil cephalus L. (Teleostei: Mugilidae), with a multivariate morphological analysis of the Mediterranean species of Saturnius Manter, 1969

Three species of the bunocotyline genus Saturnius Manter, 1969 are described from the stomach lining of mugilid fishes of the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Two of the species are new: S. minutus n. sp. occurs in Mugil cephalus off the Mediterranean coast of Spain; and S. dimitrovi n. sp., a parasite of M. cephalus off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and the Spanish Mediterranean coast, was originally described as S. papernai by Dimitrov et al. (1998). In addition, S. papernai Overstreet, 1977 is redescribed from M. cephalus off the Spanish Mediterranean coast and from Liza aurata and L. saliens off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The three species are distinguished morphometrically using univariate and multivariate analyses. These results were verified using Linear Discriminant Analysis which correctly allocated all specimens to their species designations based on morphology (i.e. 100% successful classification rate) and assigned almost all specimens to the correct population (locality). The following variables were selected for optimal separation between samples: the length of the forebody, ventral sucker and posterior testis, the length and width of the posteriormost pseudosegment, and the width of the muscular flange at ventral sucker level.     

Albionella fabricii n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) from the gills of Centroscyllium fabricii from the Northwest Atlantic

Albionella fabricii n. sp. is described from the gills of the black dogfish Centroscyllium fabricii caught off the west coast of Newfoundland. Morphological differences are found in all the female and male appendages between Albionella fabricii n. sp. and A. centroscyllii, another species occurring concurrently on the same host. Female A. fabricii n. sp. can easily be distinguished from its four congeners by the length and structure of the second maxillae and the length of the uropods. A comparison between Albionella fabricii n. sp. and identifiable females of the genus Lernaeopoda is necessary, since both genera differ mainly in the morphology of the male. Two specific characteristics, the number of secondary denticles on the claw of the maxilliped and the number of setae on the exopod of the first maxilla, distinguish females of Albionella from those of Lernaeopoda.     

Dactylomyza gibsoni n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from Schuettea woodwardi (Waite) (Monodactylidae) from off Western Australia

An opecoelid digenean, Dactylomyza gibsoni n. g., n. sp. is described and figured from Schuettea woodwardi (Waite), a monodactylid from off the coast of Western Australia. The new genus conforms to the concept of the opecoelid subfamily Opecoelinae. The resemblance of the new genus to three other opecoelid genera, Pseudopecoeloides Yamaguti, 1940, Opecoeloides Odhner, 1928 and Poracanthium Dollfus, 1948, is discussed. Dactylomyza n. g. is distinguished from these morphologically similar worms on the basis of its median genital pore, ventral sucker appendages, uroproct and the absence of an accessory sucker. Pseudopecoeloides equesi Manter, 1947 is transferred to the new genus as Dactylomyza equesi (Manter, 1947) n. comb.     

Amphicreadium n. g. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from monacanthid fishes (Tetraodontiformes) from the coast of northern Tasmania

A new lepocreadiid genus, Amphicreadium, is erected for the species A. denspeniculus n. sp. from Acanthaluteres vittiger and for an unnamed species from Meuschenia freycineti, both from off northern Tasmania. The new genus is distinguished from all other members of its family by its amphistomatous body plan.     

A new species of Odaginiceps Fiers, 1995 (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Tetragonicipitidae) from the Mediterranean coast of Turkey

Male and female of Odaginiceps korykosensis sp. n. (Copepoda, Harpacticoida, Tetragonicipitidae), collected in the intertidal zone of Kızkalesi beach along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey (Mersin Province), are described. The new species is the fifth member of the genus and can easily be distinguished from the other species by the presence of four setae/spines on the second endopodal segment of P4 and by the structure of the caudal rami. Previously, representatives of the genus Odaginiceps have been reported from Gulf of Mexico, off Bermuda and Kenya. Odaginiceps korykosensis sp. n. is the first record of the genus in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. and Calicotyle sp. (Monogenea,Monopisthocotylea) from the rectum and rectal glands,and Rugogaster hydrolagi Schell, 1973 (Trematoda,Aspidogastrea) from the rectal glands of holocephalans off the coast of southeastern Australia

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. from Chimaera sp., caught off the coast of New South Wales, is described. It differs from the other species of the genus in the combination of the following characteristics: length of the penis-tube, absence of medial diverticula of the caeca and presence of hamuli. Calicotyle sp. from Rhinochimaera pacifica and Rugogaster hydrolagi from Chimaera sp. caught at the same locality are reported and illustrated.     

Two species of Prodistomum Linton, 1910 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) from marine fishes of Australia

Prodistomum angelae (Kruse, 1981) n. comb. [originally Lepocreadium] is redescribed from the type-host, Scorpis georgiana, from off southwestern Western Australia. P. keyam n. sp. is described from Monodactylus argenteus from off southeastern Queensland. It differs from other members of the genus in its short ejaculatory duct. The genus Prodistomum Linton is discussed and redefined, and an updated key and record list of the nine recognised species are given.     

Species of Calydiscoides Young,l969 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae Bychowsky, 1957: Lamellodiscinae Oliver, 1969) from nemipterid fishes off Peninsular Malaysia

Four new species of Calydiscoides Young, 1969 are described from three species of nemipterids caught off Kemaman, Terengganu, on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia: C. monogrammae n. sp. from Scolopsis monogramma; C. conus n. sp. from S. magaritifer; C. scolopsidis n. sp. from S. margaritifer and S. monogramma; and C. kemamanensis n. sp. from Pentapodus setosus. The present investigation reveals that the squamodiscs (lamellodiscs) are composed of 10-12 short, complete, interlocking and concentric tubular lamellae. The innermost lamella is attached to a pair of adductor muscles.     

Revision of the genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Rutelinae: Adoretini) endemic to Madagascar

Summary. The Adoretini of the Malagasy endemic genus Adorodocia Brenske 1893 is revised. Fourteen new species and one new subspecies are described and compared with their most closely related species: A. constricta n. sp., A. cuccodoroi n. sp., A. flava n. sp., A. liliae n. sp., A. marginata n. sp., A. peyrierasi n. sp., A. pseudoconstricta n. sp., A. pseudoflava n. sp., A. pseudostrigata n. sp., A. recta n. sp., A. robusta n. sp., A. sogai n. sp., A. vadoni n. sp., A. viettei n. sp. and A. vittaticollis flavipes n. ssp. The synonymy between Adoretus strigatus Waterhouse 1878, and Pseudadorodocia aenigma Arrow 1901, is confirmed. Thus, based on the results of this study, the genus Adorodocia includes 16 species, and one of them is represented by two subspecies. Diagnostic characters to separate the species in the genus deal mostly with the shape of parameres, color of body and legs, shape of pronotum and female eighth tergite, setation of pronotum and elytra. Key to species, diagnoses and distribution for each species are provided. Endophallus and female genitalia are illustrated for the first time for this genus.     

A new species of nematode parasite,Cucullanus tunisiensis sp. nov. (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) from Epinephelus aeneus (Perciformes: Serranidae) off Tunisia

Cucullanus tunisiensis sp. nov., (Nematoda: Cucullanidae), collected from the intestine of the white grouper Epinephelus aeneus from waters off the coast of Tunisia is described based on light and scanning electron microscopic observations. The new species is characterized by the presence of lateral alae, ventral sucker, long unequal spicules (left spicule 2474-2789 μm long, right spicule 2357-2518 μm long). This is the sixth nominal species of the genus Cucullanus Müller, 1777 and the first representative of this genus infecting fishes of Serranidae family reported from Tunisian waters.

     

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. and Calicotyle sp. (Monogenea,Monopisthocotylea) from the rectum and rectal glands,and Rugogaster hydrolagi Schell, 1973 (Trematoda,Aspidogastrea) from the rectal glands of holocephalans off the coast of southeastern Australia

Calicotyle australiensis n. sp. from Chimaera sp., caught off the coast of New South Wales, is described. It differs from the other species of the genus in the combination of the following characteristics: length of the penis-tube, absence of medial diverticula of the caeca and presence of hamuli. Calicotyle sp. from Rhinochimaera pacifica and Rugogaster hydrolagi from Chimaera sp. caught at the same locality are reported and illustrated.

     

A Review of the Genera Croconema Cobb, 1920 and Pseudochromadora Daday, 1899 (Nematoda, Desmodoroidea): New Species from the Coasts of Kenya and Australia

This article is a review of the subfamily Desmodorinae (Nematoda, Desmodoroidea) and two related genera within this subfamily, Croconema Cobb, 1920 and Pseudochromadora Daday, 1899 with keys to genus or species level, genus diagnoses and lists of valid species. An emended diagnosis of, and discussion on, Sibayinema Swart & Heyns, 1991, is presented. Three new species are described: Croconema floriani sp.n. from the coast of Kenya, Pseudochromadora galeata sp.n. and P. securis sp.n. from the coast of Australia.     

Two new species of Copepoda (Crustacea) parasitic on marine fishes

Two new species of parasitic Copepoda (Crustacea) are described and illustrated. Paeon australis n. sp. (Sphyriidae) is the first member of its genus discovered in Australian waters. It is parasitic on Rhinobates batillum, an elasmobranch fish. The other species, Lateracanthus curtus n. sp., is a parasite of an unspecified Macrourus, a deep-water teleost, taken in the northwestern Atlantic. The systematics of the genus Lateracanthus are discussed. Lateracanthus macrurus is relegated to the status of a species inquirenda.     

Diplectanum squamatum n.sp. (Monogenea:Diplectanidae) fro the gills of Cynoscion guatucupa (Sciecidae) in southwest Atlantic waters

Diplectanum squamatum n. sp. is described from the gills of the sciaenid Cynoscion guatucupa collected off Mar del Plata, Argentina. The new species is distinguished from other species of the genus by the morphology of the hamuli and the male copulatory organ, and presence of scales on the haptor and body. This is the first species of Diplectanum to be reported from southwest Atlantic waters and, with the possible exception of D. cayennense Euzet & Durette-Desset, 1974, the only species from the Atlantic coast of South America.     

A new species of Branchellion Savigny, 1822 (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae), a marine leech parasitic on the giant electric ray Narcine entemedor Jordan & Starks (Batoidea: Narcinidae) off Oaxaca,Mexico

Branchellion spindolaorum n. sp. (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) is described based on specimens found parasitising the giant electric ray Narcine entemedor Jordan & Starks off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico. The new species can be clearly distinguished from the other species of Branchellion Savigny, 1822 by the presence of 30 pairs of lateral branchiae and 10 pairs of pulsatile vesicles. The definition of the genus Branchellion is expanded to include species with either 30, 31 or 33 pairs of foliaceous (plate-like) lateral branchiae in the urosome. In addition, we provide for the first time for the genus, scanning electron micrographs of the secondary suckers located on the ventral surface of the posterior sucker. Additionally, partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) were generated and compared with homologous sequences of other species of the genus. Branchellion spindolaorum n. sp. represents the fourth species of the genus known in the Eastern Pacific and the first record of a leech parasitising N. entemedor.