Haliotrematoides overstreeti Kritsky & Bullard

Kritsky, Delane C., Tingbao, Yang & Yuan, Sun, 2009, Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea, Polyonchoinea) parasitizing the gills of snappers (Perciformes, Lutjanidae): Proposal of Haliotrematoides n. gen. and descriptions of new and previously described species from marine fishes of the Red Sea, the eastern and Indo-west Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, Zootaxa 1970 (1970), pp. 1-51 : 33-35

Haliotrematoides overstreeti Kritsky & Bullard n. sp.

( Figs. 86–91)

Type host and locality: Cubara snapper, Lutjanus cyanopterus (Cuvier) (Lutjanidae) : Southern Gulf of Mexico, Bay of Campeche (18 o 44.8'N, 95 o 25.1'W), Summer, 1998.

Site of infection: Gills.

Specimens studied: Holotype, 101362; 5 paratypes, USNPC 101363 , BMNH 2008.11.19.55-56.

Etymology: This species is named for our friend and colleague, Dr. Robin Overstreet, Gulf Coast Research Station, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, in recognition of his massive contribution to the present knowledge of parasites and diseases of fishes and for the support he provided for this study.

Description: Greatest width usually at level of gonads. Cephalic lobes poorly developed. Eyespots with lenses; lenses of anterior pair small. Pharynx subspherical to ovate. Testis ovate; seminal vesicle not observed. MCO comprising small base, funnel-shaped proximal portion and coiled distal portion of tubular shaft; coil counterclockwise with 7–8 rings; outer surface of rings of coil with keel. Prostate not observed; prostatic reservoir an elongate sac usually lying to left of MCO or intertwined with MCO coil. Germarium pyriform to ovate. Vaginal pore simple in anterior half of trunk; seminal vestibule, vaginal canal, seminal receptacle not observed. Ventral anchor with well-developed roots, slightly curved shaft with proximal reduction in diameter, recurved point with delicate superficial grooves. Dorsal anchor with elongate superficial root, inconspicuous deep root, straight shaft inconspicuously swollen proximally, recurved point superficially grooved. Ventral bar with large anteromedial flap having two bilateral pockets, ends directed posterolaterally; dorsal bar forming broad V, slightly expanded posteriorly near midlength. Hook distribution typical.

Measurements: Body 531 (455–600; n = 6) long; greatest width 111 (94–128; n = 6). Haptor 120 (107–132; n = 6) long, 95 (80–104; n = 5) wide. Pharynx 30 (29–32; n = 5) wide. MCO 109 (105–115; n = 6) long. Ventral anchor 73 (69–83; n = 6) long; dorsal anchor 97 (92–101; n = 6) long. Ventral bar 45 (43–47; n = 3) long; dorsal bar 50 (48–52; n = 3) long. Hook 13 (12–14; n = 9) long. Germarium 47 (38–61; n = 3) long, 35 (28–39; n = 3) wide; testis 55 (48–62; n = 3) long, 43 (38–47; n = 3) wide.

Remarks: Specimens of H. overstreeti were mounted by personnel of the Gulf Coast Marine Laboratory prior to this study. All were unstained and mounted in glycerine jelly, which precluded observing some details of the soft internal anatomy. Nonetheless, the species is easily differentiated from all described congeners by the elongate coiled MCO with 7–8 counterclockwise rings having an external keel.