A new genus and species of fish blood fluke, Achorovermis testisinuosus gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae), infecting critically endangered smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata (Rhinopristiformes: Pristidae) in the Gulf of Mexico.

Abstract

Achorovermis testisinuosus gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) infects the heart of the smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata Latham (Rhinopristiformes: Pristidae), in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Specimens of the new genus, along with the other blood flukes that infect batoids are similar by having an inverse U-shaped intestine and a curving testis as well as by lacking tegumental spines. The new genus differs from all of the other blood flukes infecting batoids by having an elongate body (>50 × longer than wide), a testis having >100 curves, and an ovary wholly anterior to the uterus. It differs from Ogawaia glaucostegi Cutmore, Cribb et Yong, 2018, the only other blood fluke infecting a rhinopristiform, by having a body that is >50 × (vs <30 ×) longer than wide, a testis that is >75 × (vs <40 ×) longer than wide and has >100 (vs <70) curves, an ovary wholly anterior to (vs lateral and dorsal to) the seminal vesicle, a uterus wholly posterior to (vs overlapping and lateral to both) the testis and ovary, and a sinuous (vs convoluted) uterus. The new species joins a small group of chondrichthyan blood flukes that lack tegumental spines: O. glaucostegi, Orchispirium heterovitellatum Madhavi et Rao, 1970, Myliobaticola richardheardi Bullard et Jensen, 2008, Electrovermis zappum Warren et Bullard, 2019. Blood flukes infecting batoids are further unique by having a curving testis. That is, the blood flukes infecting species within Selachii are morphologically distinct from those infecting species within the Batoidea (excluding Gymnurahemecus bulbosus Warren et Bullard, 2019). Based on the morphological similarity, we suspect that the new species shares a recent common ancestor with O. glaucostegi. The discovery of the new species brings the total number of chondrichthyan blood flukes to 11 species assigned to nine genera.