Haliotrematoides prolixohamus Kritsky & Mendoza-Franco

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 : 46-48

Haliotrematoides prolixohamus Kritsky & Mendoza-Franco n. sp.

( Figs. 138–143)

Type host and locality: Pacific porgy, Calamus brachysomus (Lockington) (Sparidae) : Perlas Archipelago, Panama (8 o 22'N, 79 o 01'W), 24 May 2007.

Site of infection: Gills.

Specimens studied: Holotype, USNPC 101379 ; 22 paratypes, USNPC 101380 , BMNH 2008.11.19.77- 82, CNHE 6469 .

Etymology: The specific name (a noun) is from Latin (prolixus = long, extended + hamus = hook) and refers to the elongate anchors of this species.

Description: Body with elongate peduncle; greatest width usually at level of vaginal pore near midlength of trunk. Cephalic lobes moderately developed. Eyespots lacking lenses. Pharynx subspherical. Testis ovate; vas deferens, seminal vesicle not observed. MCO comprising large bell-shaped base, slightly tapered shaft with counterclockwise twist about 1/3 distance to recurved tip and delicate membrane along middle third of length. Prostatic reservoir large, lying to left of MCO. Germarium generally subquadrate. Vaginal pore simple on small tegumental elevation; seminal vestibule large, extending to middle of trunk, with internal nodule and infrequently containing spermatophore; vaginal canal arising from internal nodule within vaginal vestibule, dilated as it leaves vaginal vestibule, then tapering to fine tube and extending to inconspicuous seminal receptacle near body midline. Ventral anchor with well-developed roots, elongate almost straight shaft with inner blade near its junction with straight recurved point; point with delicate superficial grooves. Dorsal anchor with elongate superficial root, inconspicuous deep root, nearly straight elongate shaft having distal inner blade; straight recurved point superficially grooved. Ventral bar rod shaped, with slightly enlarged ends, two small bilateral pockets along anterior margin; dorsal bar V shaped, with delicate posterior shield (often obscure) and bilateral terminal spines directed anteriorly. Hook distribution typical, except hook pair 4 lying on peduncle far anterior to anchor bases.

Measurements: Body 502 (435–588; n = 8) long; greatest width 72 (65–79; n = 9). Haptor 100 (85–120; n = 9) long, 60 (53–66; n = 5) wide. Pharynx 24 (21–28; n = 6) wide. MCO 73 (60–86; n = 13) long. Ventral anchor 84 (77–88; n = 14) long; dorsal anchor 86 (81–91; n = 14) long. Ventral bar 35 (32–38; n = 10) long; dorsal bar 41 (38–45; n = 11) long. Hook 12 (11–13; n = 36) long. Germarium 34 (30–37; n = 2) long, 29 (28–31; n = 2) wide; testis 50 (39–67; n = 5) long, 34 (27–45; n = 5) wide.

Remarks: This species appears closest to H. mediohamides . They differ by H. prolixohamus having more elongate and delicate anchors, a dorsal bar with a larger shield, and a membrane along the shaft of the MCO.