Transversotrema licinum MANTER, 1970

Sey, O., Nahhas, F. M., Uch, S. & Vang, C., 2003, Digenetic Trematodes From Marine Fishes Off The Coast Of Kuwait, Arabian Gulf: Fellodistomidae And Some Smaller Families, New Host And Geographic Records, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 49 (3), pp. 179-200 : 190-191

Transversotrema licinum MANTER, 1970

( Fig. 4 )

Host: Diplodus noct (VALENCIENNES, 1830) ( Sparidae ) new host record

Description based on 10 specimens. Body transversely elongate, dorso-ventrally flattened, 500–875 × 1,625 –2,250 (740x1,970); body length to width ratio 1:2.37–1:3.25 (1:2.62); forebody 250–460 (370); hindbody 135–350 (283). Tegument spiny; spines small, extending along entire body length. Eyespots two, 190–290 (226) apart. Oral sucker lacking; ventral sucker near midbody, 78–100 × 83–105 (88 × 103). Pharynx midventral, 75–110 × 88–120 (95 × 109); oesophagus 30–80 (57); caeca form cyclocoel, surrounding gonads. Testes two, symmetrical, deeply lobed; right testis 170–240 × 190–310 (210 × 251); left testis 150–250 × 190–300 (218 × 243); seminal vesicle anterior to right testis, bipartite, posterior part globular, anterior segment tubular, and winding; pars prostatica poorly developed terminating as small ejaculatory duct. Ovary 100–170 × 110–190 (135x156), smooth to slightly irregular, sinistral and anterior to left testis; uterus extending between testes and anterior limbs of caeca, joining ejaculatory duct at genital pore in mid anterior margin of body. Laurer’s canal opening dorsally near left testis; seminal receptacle absent, few sperm seen near proximal part of uterus; vitelline follicles numerous, few in intercaecal region lateral to gonads, but mostly extracaecal and confluent in posterior body; anteriorly follicles restricted to about one third body width on each side. Eggs 80–100 × 30–50 (96 × 44). Excretory vesicle short, tubular; pore terminal.

Remarks. This species was first described by MANTER (1970) from Scorpis sp and Microcanthus strigatus (CUVIER) ( Kyphosidae ) from Moreton Bay, Australia. CRIBB et al. (1992) reviewed the family Transversotrematidae , redescribing the species in detail, based on material obtained from several species of fish belonging to 7 host families. ABDUL-SALAM and SREELATHA (1992) recovered it from Diplodus sargus ( Sparidae ) from the Kuwaiti coast and described its surface topography and ultrastructure. The distinguishing features of this species, compared with T. haasi WITENBERG, 1944 according to CRIBB et al. (1992) and confirmed in our study, are the restricted distribution of the vitelline follicles anterior to the caeca and the length-width ratio.

Figures

Fig. 4. Transversotrema licinum MANTER, 1970 from Diplodus noct. Ventral view. Scale 1.00 mm