Entobdella pugetensis Robinson, 1961

Kearn, Graham C., Whittington, Ian D. & Evans-Gowing, Richard, 2007, A revision of Entobdella Blainville in Lamarck, 1818, with special emphasis on the nominal (type) species “ Entobdella hippoglossi (Müller, 1776) Blainville, 1818 ” (Monogenea: Capsalidae: Entobdellinae) from teleost flatfishes, with descriptions of three new species and a new genus, Zootaxa 1659, pp. 1-54 : 22

Entobdella pugetensis Robinson, 1961

( Fig. 26)

There is a record by Beverley-Burton (1984) of this species on the skin of Atheresthes stomias ( Jordan & Gilbert, 1880) ( Pleuronectiformes : Pleuronectidae ) but other records and the specimens examined in our study ( Table 2) are from gills. Robinson’s (1961) account of this relatively small parasite (body length quoted: 1.9 – 4.34 mm) is based on 9 specimens. We found that tendons associated with the accessory sclerites attach to the anterior (proximal) end of the anterior hamulus ( Fig. 26A). Subdivision of the anterolateral adhesive pads into 3 separate areas, an arrangement illustrated and described by Robinson (1961) and confirmed by us ( Fig. 26A), provides a link with skin-parasitic Entobdella spp. However, 3 significant features set E. pugetensis aside from its skin-parasitic relatives. (1) The posterior (proximal) wall of the penis sac is exceptionally thick and probably muscular. This wall becomes progressively thinner distally until, about halfway along the penis sac, it dwindles to a relatively thin sheath for the penis ( Fig. 26A). (2) The vagina is relatively short and straight, 8 in diameter. Close to the ventral surface it flares, creating a relatively conspicuous funnel-shaped opening with a diameter of about 15 ( Fig. 26A). The vaginal opening lies posterior to the excretory pore and just posterior to the ootype. Hence it occupies a much more posterior location than in any of the other entobdelline species in our study. Proximally the vagina approaches the vitelline reservoir, where it narrows abruptly, but a connection with the vitelline reservoir was not detected. No circular fibres surrounded the vaginal opening when viewed with bright field or phase contrast microscopy. (3) Ventral haptor papillae are absent ( Fig. 26A).

Glands of Goto were observed in 1 specimen .