Phthinomita munozae, Nolan & Cribb, 2006

Nolan, Matthew J. & Cribb, Thomas H., 2006, An exceptionally rich complex of Sanguinicolidae von Graff, 1907 (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda) from Siganidae, Labridae and Mullidae (Teleostei: Perciformes) from the Indo-west Pacific Region, Zootaxa 1218 (1), pp. 1-80 : 57-60

Phthinomita munozae n. sp. ( Figs. 47–49 )

Type host: Choerodon venustus (De Vis) , Venus Tuskfish ( Perciformes : Labridae ).

Site in host: Intertrabecular spaces of ventricle (heart).

Type locality: Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef (23°27’S 151°55’E), Queensland .

Material examined: ex C. venustus, Heron Island (QLD), Apr. 2001, Jul. 2001, twentytwo partial and complete specimens (Holotype no. QM G 225628 ; Paratype nos. QM G 225629–225633 ) .

Collector: M.J. Nolan.

Locality: 1. Heron Island; 2. Lizard Island; 3. Ningaloo Reef; 4. Palau; 5. Swain Reefs Complex; 6. Stanley Harbour, Tasmania; 7. Point Peron, Western Australia.

Etymology

Specific name for our friend Miss Gabriela Muñoz Cerda of the Marine Parasitology Lab, University of Queensland.

Description

Based on 22 whole and partial mounts. With features of genus. Body curving dextrally posteriorly, slightly notched at male pore. Anterior testis originating posterior to intercaecal field, but, antero­sinistral to distal termination of right posterior caecum, margins lobed. Posterior testis ovoid, margins lobed. Vas deferens seen anterior to posterior margin of anterior testis, ventro­dextrally; duct from posterior testis passing antero­sinistrally. Cirrus­sac obovate. Internal seminal vesicle ovoid, occupying ventral region of cirrus­sac; ejaculatory duct straight; prostatic cells small. Ovary triangular, posterior to posterior margin of anterior testis. Oviduct originating at centre of posterior margin of ovary, sinuous. Vitelline duct forming posterior to posterior margin of ovary, sinuous; vitelline reservoir forming anterior to anterior margin of cirrus­sac, sinuous, entering oötype postero­dorsally. Oötype ovoid, medial. Mehlis’ gland extending anteriorly to posterior margin of cirrus­sac, extending posteriorly to mid­section of posterior testis. Uterus extending from oötype, sinuous. Uterine chamber forming laterally to posterior margin of ovary, sinuous, thin anteriorly, widening posteriorly, narrowing again before passing dorsally to female genital pore. Vitelline follicles extending anteriorly past intestinal bifurcation, extending posteriorly past posterior margin of ovary, filling intercaecal field, posteriorly passing medially.

Remarks

This species shows close affinity to the genus Phthinomita and is distinguished from its congeners in the combined possession of a body 31.8–41.8 times longer than wide with only a slight notch level with the male pore, posterior caeca that occupy 30–41% of the body length, an anterior testis that is positioned posterior to the intercaecal field but antero­sinistrally to the distal termination of the right posterior caecum, is 11.2–21.2 times longer than wide, occupies 27–44% of the body length and is 11.7–25.0 times longer than the posterior testis. Phthinomita munozae is also distinguished in having a posterior testis that occupies 2–3% of the body length and 11–43% of the body width, a transversely obovate cirrus­sac, a triangular ovary positioned 11–15% of the body length from the posterior end, a uterine chamber 179–364 (297) x 22–58 (44) and vitelline follicles that extend anteriorly well past the intestinal bifurcation.

There are in addition, 1–32 base differences (0.3–9.6% sequence divergence) between the ITS2 sequence of P. munozae and the remaining Phthinomita species reported here. Between sequences from P. munozae (four replicates) from Choerodon venustus off Heron Island and P. poulini n. sp. (eight replicates) from three sympatric mullid hosts off Lizard Island there is one base difference.

Figures

FIGURES 47–49. Phthinomita munozae n. sp. from the ventricle (heart) of Choerodon venustus off Heron Island. 47. Adult. Lateral anteriorly, medially twisting dorso­ventrally at level of “arrow a”, ventral posteriorly, whole mount. 48. Male terminal genitalia, lateral view. 49. Female terminal genitalia, lateral view. Vitelline duct omitted as obscures path of proximal uterus. Scale­bars: 47,49, 250 m; 48, 100 m.