A new species of Polystoma (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) parasitic in Hyperolius marmoratus (Anura: Hyperoliidae) in South Africa

Polystoma marmorati n. sp. is described as a new polystomatid species parasitic in the urinary bladder of the painted reed frog Hyperolius marmoratus marmoratus collected in southern Natal, South Africa. Parasite prevalence varied from 14.5 to 47.4% and the mean intensity from 1.0 to 1.1. The hamuli of the new species have a characteristic, partly fragmented appearance, a feature also seen in Polystoma batchvarivi, the only other polystome described from a species of the genus Hyperolius. The similarity between the two species, in spite of their geographical separation, is commented upon.     

Sundapolystoma chalconotae n. g., n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from Rana chalconota (Schlegel) of Peninsular Malaysia

Sundapolystoma chalconotae. n. g., n. sp. (Polystomatidae, Polystomatinae) is proposed for a new polystomatid from the urinary bladder of Rana chalconota (Schlegel) in Peninsular Malaysia. This is the first species of polystomatid to be described from the amphibians of Peninsular Malaysia and the second for the Southeast Asian region. This new genus, as exemplified by S. chalconotae, differs from other polystomatids, and in particular Parapolystoma Ozaki, 1935 (P. bulliense (Johnston, 1912) Ozaki, 1935 and P. johnstoni Pichelin, 1995), in having a tubular uterus and a single diffuse testis. P. crooki Vande Vusse, 1976 is similar to S. chalconotae in having a similar type of uterus and testis, and is re-assigned as Sundapolystoma crooki (Vande Vusse, 1976) n. comb. S. chalconotae differs from S. crooki in having anchors with a longer outer root rather than a longer inner root and 7-8 genital spines compared to 9-13 in S. crooki.     

Euzetrema caucasica sp. n. (Monogenea, Polyopisthocotylidea), a parasite of the Caucasian salamander]

A new species of monogeneans, Euzetrema caucasica sp. n., from the urinary bladder of Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876) is described. The new species differs from E. knoepffleri Combes, 1965 by greater sizes of the disc, median and marginal hooks and anterior suckers. Certain suggestions are made on the biology and life cycle of Euzetrema.     

Rhopalobdella japonica n. gen., n. sp. (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) from Dasyatis akajei (Chondrichthyes: Dasyatididae) in the northwestern Pacific

A new genus and species of piscicolid leech in the Platybdellinae inhabits the oral cavity of Dasyatis akajei in the northwestern Pacific Ocean near Tanabe, Japan. The genus Rhopalobdella n. gen. is characterized externally by very small oral and caudal suckers and a smooth body that is widest just posterior to the clitellum. Eyespots and ocelli are lacking. The coelom is spacious with large segmental connecting sinuses between dorsal and ventral sinuses. There are 5 pairs of testisacs, an unusually extensive epididymis, and a very large bursa. Conducting tissue is absent. There are 2 pairs of esophageal diverticula and very well developed nephridia. Rhopalobdella japonica n. gen. n. sp. is characterized by a urosome that tapers strongly to the caudal sucker and by a single gonopore; the common oviduct opens into the posterior portion of the bursa. The coelomic and excretory systems resemble Aestabdella, but in other respects the genera are quite different. This is the first marine leech reported from rays in the northwestern Pacific.     

Polystoma cuvieri n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae), a parasite of the urinary bladder of the leptodactylid frog Physalaemus cuvieri in Paraguay

A new species of polystomatid monogenean, Polystoma cuvieri, is described from the urinary bladder of the leptodactylid frog Physalaemus cuvieri Fitzinger in Paraguay. This new species possesses a reticulated intestine and hamuli of about 350 microns long. The closest species is Polystoma napoensis Vaucher, 1987, described from Osteocephalus spp. in Ecuador. The Paraguayan material is distinguished by the blade size of the hamuli. The hamuli blades appear to be useful in Polystoma systematics.     

New species of myxosporidia (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) of fish from the northwestern Sea of Japan

Three new species of mixosporidia of the genera, Myxidium and Myxoproteus, from the gall bladder and urinary bladder of fishes from Japan Sea: Myxidium licodae sp. n., M. rarum sp. n., and Myxoproteus ovale sp. n.     

A novel microhabitat for parasitic copepods: A new genus of Ergasilidae (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) from the urinary bladder of a freshwater fish

An endoparasitic copepod is reported from the urinary bladder of a fish for the first time. Endoparasitic copepods on fish hosts are extremely rare and the impact of colonization of this novel microhabitat on the biology of the parasite is discussed. This curious association was reported from two different host families of Neotropical freshwater fishes, Erythrinidae and Cichlidae, collected from the Cristalino River, a tributary of the Araguaia River, in Brazil. The copepod is fully described using light and scanning electron microscopy. Urogasilus brasiliensis n. g., n. sp. represents a new genus and species of the family Ergasilidae and can be distinguished from other genera by its unique tagmosis, in which the fourth and fifth pedigerous somites and the genital double-somite are all fused to form an elongate trunk. The anal somite is the only free abdominal somite present. The pattern of leg segmentation is also unique, with legs 1 to 3 each having a 2-segmented endopod and leg 4 reduced to a single seta. The discovery of ovigerous female ergasilids in the urinary bladder of a fish is novel and this discovery represents a good model for further studies on the adaptations to an endoparasitic lifestyle.     

Two new species of Nomimoscolex (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea,Monticelliidae) from Gymnotus carapo (Pisces: Gymnotiformes) in Argentina

Nomimoscolex guillermoi n. sp. and N. dechambrieri n. sp. are described from the gymnotiform fish Gymnotus carapo from Argentina. The new species are placed into Nomimoscolex based on the cortical position of the vitelline follicles, and medullary position of the testes, ovary, and uterus. Both species were compared to the 13 species considered valid in the genus. The combination of features distinguishing N. guillermoi from N. dechambrieri is (1) the position of the vagina to cirrus pouch (anterior or posterior vs always anterior respectively), (2) the total number of testes (41-85 vs 108-130 respectively), (3) the distribution of the vitelline follicles (arranged in dorso-lateral and ventro-lateral bands vs lateral bands respectively), (4) the length of the uteroduct (ending 58% vs 35% from posterior margin of mature proglottis respectively), and (5) the presence of gland cells in the scolex (unicellular glands in the apical region and the external margin of suckers vs the presence of unicellular glands in the apex and other grouped in a cluster medially to the suckers respectively).     

The life cycle of Asymphylodora perccotti sp. n. (Trematoda: Lissorchiidae) in the Russian Southern Far East

Specimens of Asymphylodora perccotti sp. n. (Trematoda: Lissorchidae) were found in the esophagus of the freshwater fish Perccottus glenii (Odobantidae) taken from the Bolshaya Ussurka River Basin (Primorsky Region, Russian Southern Far East). The first intermediate host of this trematode is a gastropod, Parafossarulus manchouricus, and the secondary hosts are the same mollusk and Boreoelona ussuriensis. Specimens of the new species are similar to A. amnicolae identified by Stunkard in 1959, but the mature worms have larger suckers and shorter ceca. The cercariae of these species are distinguished by body, suckers and pharynx size. These organs in A. perccotti sp. n. are more than one-third larger than what is observed in A. amnicolae. In addition, the new species lacks the capacity for progenesis. Finally, the new species is unusual in that it resides in the fish esophagus instead of the intestine, as is common for most Asymphylodora species. Partial ribosomal DNA sequences and phylogenetic reconstruction sequence data indicate that these worms represent a new digenean species.     

Speciation of Protopolystoma Bychowsky, 1957 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) in hosts of the genus shape Xenopus (Anura: Pipidae)

The taxonomy, geographical distribution and hostrange of the polystomatid genus ProtopolystomaBychowsky, 1957 are reviewed. P. xenopodis(Price, 1943) and five new species are recognised,which occur in clawed toads ( Xenopus spp.)throughout subsaharan Africa. Of the two clawed toadsubgenera, Xenopus and Silurana, only theformer is infected. Protopolystoma spp. aredifferentiated by morphological variation of the gut,large hamulus and penis armature. P.xenopodis is found in Xenopus laevis subspeciesin South Africa, Transkei, Zimbabwe, DemocraticRepublic of Congo (D.R.C.), Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya andCameroon ( X. l. poweri and X. l.sudanensis are new host records). It also occurs inintroduced populations of X. l. laevis in theUnited States (southern California) and United Kingdom(South Wales). In subsaharan Africa the speciesdisplays significant, but continuous, geographicalvariation of penis spine size between southernpopulations in X. l. laevis and those in morenortherly host subspecies. Data on the natural hostrange of this parasite were complemented by anexperimental study of host-specificity in the southernform. This can produce patent infections in X.l. victorianus and X. gilli, but not X.wittei nor X. (Silurana) tropicalis. P.simplicis n. sp. is endemic to central and eastAfrican areas, infecting X. laevis subspecies ineastern D.R.C., Rwanda, Uganda and western Kenya, X. wittei-like hosts in eastern D.R.C., westernUganda, Rwanda and Burundi, X. vestitus inwestern Uganda and Xenopus sp. at Nairobi,Kenya. P. ramulosus n. sp. occurs in X.fraseri-like toads in eastern D.R.C. (Gabon andCameroon are also possible literature records), and P. fissilis n. sp. is found in X. fraseri-and X. wittei-like species in Cameroon andeastern D.R.C., and in southern Rwanda, respectively. Two Protopolystoma taxa are found in X.muelleri populations now suspected to representdistinct species: P. occidentalis n. sp. occursin X. muelleri (western form) in Ghana, Togo,Nigeria and Cameroon, while P. orientalis n. sp.is found in X. muelleri (eastern form) in SouthAfrica, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. The allopatricallydistributed species P. ramulosus, P.simplicis, P. occidentalis and P.orientalis form a relatively homogenous grouping withsome interspecific morphological overlap. These taxaare distinguished from P. xenopodis by penisspine morphology and from P. fissilis by hamulusroot form and aspects of gut morphology. Unidentified Protopolystoma sp. have been recorded in X. clivii in Ethiopia, X. fraseri aff. inCameroon and Xenopus sp. in Kenya and Tanzania. At some localities, single host species were infectedby two representatives of Protopolystoma. P. fissilis was recorded in eastern D.R.C. with P. ramulosus, with Protopolystoma sp. inCameroon in X. fraseri-like hosts and with P. simplicis in X. wittei-like hosts in Rwanda. P. xenopodis co-occurred with P. simplicisin X. laevis subspecies through central and eastAfrica.     

A new cestode (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) in elasmobranchs from the Taiwan Strait

In total, 20 fanrays, Platyrhina sinensis (Rajiformes: Rhinobatidae), collected from the Taiwan Strait, were examined. A new phyllobothriid genus and species (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) was found and described. Biotobothrium platyrhina n. gen., n. sp. is assigned to the Rhinebothriinae Euzet, 1953, because it possesses 4 stalked bothridia that are each divided by septa into numerous small facial loculi but that lack apical suckers. The new genus and species is clearly different from any other in Rhinebothriinae in that each bothridium bears 2 sets of 5 small facial loculi, with 1 set located at each of the distal ends of the bothridium, rather than facial loculi throughout the entire distal surface of the bothridium, as is seen in all other genera in the subfamily. This character has not been previously reported for members of Rhinebothriinae. In addition, the testicular arrangement in the anterior quarter of the proglottid is unique. The posterior range of the vas deferens almost reaches the ovarian bridge, and the morphology of the cirrus sac and several other morphological characters are at variance with presently described species in the subfamily.     

Carassotrema koreanum Park, 1938 (Trematoda, Waretrematidae) and a new species of this genus from fresh water fishes of North Vietnam]

In freshwater fishes of North Viet-Nam were found representatives of the family Waretrematidae, Carassotrema koreanum and a new species of this genus, C. ginezinskajae sp. n., close to C. koreanum and differing from it in the structure and extent of yolk glands, relatively larger sizes of the pharynx and suckers, the location of spines and body shape. The described species differs from the other species of this genus, C. mugilicola, in the shape and location of testis, structure and location of yolk glands, intestine extent, size of suckers and pharynx, presence of cirrus, location of spines on the body and in other characters. Asymphylodora pavlovskajae Ha Ky, 1969 and Asymphylodora ginezinskajae Ha Ky, 1969 are reduced to synonyms of Carassotrema koreanum and C. ginezinskajae sp. n.     

Two new species and a phylogenetic analysis of the genus Tectidrilus (0Iigochaeta, Tubifcidae)

Tectidrilus probus sp.n. and Tectidrilus profusus sp.n. are described from offshore localities in southern California. Both species appear closely related to T. diversus Ersëus, 1982, which occurs in the same area, but they differ from the latter by possessing small oesophageal diverticula; T. probus differs also by its very small spermathecal vestibules. Tectidrilus profusus is a highly apomorphic form with elaborate, partly muscular, male ducts and spermathecae. Monophyly of Tectidrilus is supported by the short clitellum and the unisetal 'bundles' in postclitellar segments. Patterns of apomorphic character states within the genus are analyzed under the principle of Camin-Sokal parsimony (irreversibility of character states), giving three equally parsimonious cladograms. In the strict consensus tree of these cladograms, eight of the twelve members of Tectidrilus form an apomorphic group defined by the papillated body wall, but the individual species within this group cannot be unequivocally resolved from each other.     

Comparative morphology of the gas bladder in driftwood catfishes (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae)

The gross morphology of the gas bladder is described and illustrated for representatives of most species and all valid genera of the Auchenipteridae (Siluriformes). Although, a simple cordiform gas bladder is present in some species of the family, others are characterized by their distinctive gas‐bladder shape and diverticula disposition. An acute posterior end of the gas bladder characterizes Centromochlus heckelii and C. macracanthus, and is variably present in specimens of Auchenipterus. Tocantinsia piresi and Asterophysus batrachus have distinctive gas bladders differing in number of diverticula (two or many). The two species of Trachycorystes are diagnosed based on their gas bladder morphology: T. menezesi has a simple cordiform bladder, whereas T. trachycorystes has a pair of lateral diverticulum and, usually, a well‐developed terminal diverticulum. Species of Auchenipterichthys are characterized by having a secondary bladder with simple chamber. Short or elongate and divergent terminal diverticula are exclusive to most cis‐andine species of Trachelyopterus. Tetranematichthys and trans‐andine species of Trachelyopterus share a well‐developed secondary chamber or terminal diverticula ventrally or dorsally connected to the posterior chambers. The small‐sized species of Ageneiosus have well‐developed gas bladders with a pair of posterior diverticula, whereas large‐sized species have a reduced gas bladder with tunica externa varying from non‐, partially, or completely ossified. Eight phylogenetic characters are proposed based on the morphology of the gas bladder and associated structures in species of Auchenipteridae, and the evolution of those characters in the family discussed. J. Morphol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Syntopic occurrence of new species ofPolystoma andMetapolystoma (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) inPtychadena porosissima in South Africa

Polystoma sodwanensis n. sp. andMetapolystoma porosissimae n. sp. are described as new species of the Polystomatidae parasitic in the urinary bladder of adultPtychadena porosissima collected in northern Natal, South Africa. Of 26 frogs examined, 11 host individuals were infected with one of the two parasite species, while in five both parasite species occurred. This is the first record of two different genera of polystomatids occurring together in one host species and the first record ofMetapolystoma in South Africa. The exceptional nature of the reported double infection is discussed in terms of host specificity within the Polystomatidae. Relevant information is given on the ecology and distribution of the host,Ptychadena porosissima.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

华西雨蛙寄生多盘虫科单殖吸虫一新种

在云南省新平县(24°N,101°32’E)采集的华西雨蛙Hyla a.annectans膀胱内检获多盘虫属1新种,新平多盘虫Polystoma xinpingensis sp.nov.。124只华西雨蛙中18只华西雨蛙感染,自然感染率为14.5%。新种与多盘虫属记录种最显著的区别在于:虫体体型小,其体长仅为2967μm。内侧肠管于虫体后1/3处仅形成2条横跨虫体的联合肠管,其它记录种肠管分支多数或形成较复杂的网状。睾丸巨大,呈滤泡状,分散分布直达虫体中部。新种的正、副模式标本保存在云南师范大学生命科学学院。     

Two new species of Stellifer from inshore waters of the eastern Pacific, with a redescription of S. ephelis (Perciformes: Sciaenidae)

Two new species of Stellifer from the eastern Pacific coast are described. Stellifer walkeri n. sp. and S. wintersteenorum n. sp. are both found in coastal waters off southern Mexico. They are distinguished from other species of Stellifer by having two sharp spines at the lower margin of the preopercle and four sensory pores at the tip of the lower jaw. Stellifer wintersteenorum can be distinguished from S. walkeri by having jet black pigment on the roof of the mouth and pharyngeal cavity. Stellifer wintersteenorum can be further distinguished from S. furthii (Steindachner), which also has a black mouth lining, by having a pair of short diverticula on the anterior chamber of the gas bladder compared with those of S. furthii, which are extended posteriorly as long, narrow tubes. Stellifer walkeri is further distinguished from S. pizarroensis Hildebrand by having fewer gill rakers (36-38 vs. 51-55) and soft anal-fin rays (9 vs. 10-11), and from S. zestocarus Gilbert by having two, instead of one preopercular spines, more gill rakers (36-38 vs. 29-32) and a smaller eye (4.5-4.8 vs. 3.6-4.2 in head length). Stellifer ephelis Chirichigno, which was incompletely described when named, is redescribed based on materials from throughout the species' range. A key to the eastern Pacific species of Stellifer is also included.     

Morphology and molecular characterization of Polystoma goeldii n. sp. (Monogenea,Polystomatidae) parasite from the urinary bladder of Physalaemus ephippifer (Steindachner) (Anura,Leptodactylidae)

Polystomatid flatworms of amphibians are represented in the Neotropical realm by species of Mesopolystoma, Nanopolystoma, Parapseudopolystoma, Polystoma, Riojatrema and Wetapolystoma but only species of Polystoma are known from Brazil, namely Polystoma cuvieri, P. knoffi, P. lopezromani and P. travassosi. During a survey of monogeneans infecting amphibians in the north-eastern region of Pará State, the Cayenne Caecilian Typhlonectes compressicauda was found to be infected with Nanopolystoma tinsleyi and the Veined Tree Frog Trachycephalus typhonius was found to harbor Polystoma lopezromani. A yet unknown species of Polystoma was also encountered in the urinary bladder of the Steindachner's Dwarf Frog, Physalaemus ephippifer. This new species, which is the second species reported from Physalaemus spp., is described herein as Polystoma goeldii n. sp. and its life cycle is also illustrated. The new species can be distinguished from Polystoma spp. from other neotropical realm by a combination of characteristics, including hamuli morphology, outer/inner hamuli length ratio, haptor/total body length ratio, genital bulb/total body length ratio, genital spine number and COI molecular characters.