Phthinomita hallae, 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 : 43-45

Phthinomita hallae n. sp. ( Figs. 29–31 )

Type host: Siganus doliatus (Cuvier) , Barred Rabbitfish ( Perciformes : Siganidae ).

Other hosts: S. corallinus (Valenciennes) , Coral Rabbitfish; S. vulpinus (Schlegel & Müller) , Foxface. ( Perciformes : Siganidae ).

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 S. doliatus, Heron Island (QLD), Apr. 2001, Jul. 2001, Feb. 2002, twenty specimens (Holotype no. QM G 225563; Paratype nos. QM G 225564–225572); ex S. corallinus, Heron Island (QLD), May. 2003 (one specimen sequenced for ITS2); ex S. vulpinus, Heron Island (QLD), Feb. 2002 (two specimens sequenced for ITS2).

Collector: M.J. Nolan.

Etymology

Specific name for our good friend and colleague Dr Kathryn Hall, for her efforts in teaching MJN phylogenetic theory and her continued friendship and advice over the last six years.

Description

Based on 20 partial and complete mounts. With features of genus. Body slightly notched level with male genital pore. Anterior testis originating posterior to posterior caeca, margins lobed. Posterior testis ovoid, margins lobed. Cirrus­sac spherical. Internal seminal vesicle spherical, occupying most of cirrus­sac; ejaculatory duct straight; prostatic cells not seen. Ovary spherical, slightly overlapping posterior margin of anterior testis sinistrally. Oviduct originating at centre of posterior margin of ovary, sinuous, dorsal to vas deferens, entering oötype postero­dorsally. Vitelline duct forming posterior to posterior margin of ovary, passing posteriorly dextral to vas deferens; vitelline reservoir forming posterior to cirrus­sac, sinuous, entering oötype posteriorly. Oötype ovoid. Mehlis’ gland extending anteriorly past anterior margin of oötype, extending posteriorly to anterior margin of posterior testis. Uterus extending from oötype, sinuous, sinistral to oviduct. Uterine chamber forming posterior to posterior margin of ovary, sinuous, curving dorsally posteriorly to female pore. Vitelline follicles extending anteriorly past intestinal bifurcation, extending posteriorly to anterior margin of uterine chamber.

Remarks

Phthinomita hallae differs from other congeneric species in possessing the combination of a body 3070–3950 (3507) long, an anterior testis that originates posterior to the intercaecal field and that occupies 35–37% of the body length, an anterior testis 7.6–9.9 times longer than the posterior one, only a slight notch level with the male genital pore (by comparison to that of P. brooksi ), a spherical cirrus­sac, a uterine chamber situated entirely posterior to the ovary and that is 104–150 (126) x 10–19 (14) and vitelline follicles that extend anteriorly just past the intestinal bifurcation.

There are in addition, 3–35 base differences (0.8–10.7% sequence divergence) between the ITS2 rDNA sequence of P. hallae and the remaining Phthinomita species sequenced here. Between the sequences from P. hallae (21 replicates) from three sympatric hosts off Heron Island and P. jonesi (25 replicates) from four sympatric hosts off Lizard Island there are three base differences.

Figures

FIGURES 29–31. Phthinomita hallae n. sp. from the intertrabecular spaces of ventricle (heart) of Siganus doliatus off Heron Island. 29. Adult. Lateral view, whole mount. 30. Male terminal genitalia, dorsal view. 31. Female terminal genitalia, lateral view. Scale­bars: 29,31, 250 m; 30, 100 m.