Ancyrocephalidae (Monogenea) of Lake Tanganyika: I: Four new species of Cichlidogyrus from Ophthalmotilapia ventralis (Teleostei: Cichlidae), the first record of this parasite family in the basin

Maarten P M Vanhove,Filip A M Volckaert,Antoine Pariselle

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702011000200016

Maarten P M Vanhove, Filip A M Volckaert + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-46702011000200016

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Journal: Zoologia (Curitiba)	Publication Date: Apr 1, 2011
Citations: 30	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: KU Leuven, University of Montpellier

Abstract

Examination of gill parasites from Ophthalmotilapia ventralis (Boulenger, 1898) in Lake Tanganyika (Africa) revealed the presence of four new species of Monogenea, all members of Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (Ancyrocephalidae). In view of the systematic importance of haptoral structure, the fish host shows a remarkable diversity of morphological groups. Cichlidogyrus vandekerkhovei sp. nov. and C. makasai sp. nov. are especially characterized by the unusual length of the dorsal transverse bar auricles, while C. sturmbaueri sp. nov. is distinguished by the unique shape of the accessory piece of its male copulatory organ. Importantly, C. centesimus sp. nov. displays a number of features new to the genus, namely a spirally coiled thickening at the end of the penis, the absence of an accessory piece in the genital apparatus, and a hitherto unknown uncinuli configuration in the haptor. This is the first record of ancyrocephalid parasites from the Tanganyika basin. Some mechanisms possibly contributing to this yet unknown diversity are discussed, identifying topics deserving further scientific scrutiny.

Highlights

Of the three major African Great Lakes (Malawi, Victoria and Tanganyika) Lake Tanganyika is the deepest and the oldest (COHEN et al 1997)
Cichlidogyrus vandekerkhovei sp. nov. and C. makasai sp. nov. are especially characterized by the unusual length of the dorsal transverse bar auricles, while C. sturmbaueri sp. nov. is distinguished by the unique shape of the accessory piece of its male copulatory organ
All four new species of Monogenea found on the gills of specimens of O. ventralis belong to Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (according to PAPERNA 1960 and PARISELLE et al 2003a; it should be noted, that the absence of an accessory piece in the male copulatory organ (MCO) of C. centesimus sp. nov. might indicate the need for revision of the generic diagnosis)

Summary

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fish were caught in April 2008 (Zambia and Tanzania) and April 2010 (Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)) using gill or hand nets. All four new species of Monogenea found on the gills of specimens of O. ventralis belong to Cichlidogyrus Paperna, 1960 (according to PAPERNA 1960 and PARISELLE et al 2003a; it should be noted, that the absence of an accessory piece in the male copulatory organ (MCO) of C. centesimus sp. Despite the presence of very long auricles on the dorsal bar, similar in size to the auricles of species of Scutogyrus Pariselle & Euzet, 1995 (see Fig. 3), C. vandekerkhovei sp. Christian Sturmbauer (Austria), specialist in the evolution of Tanganyika cichlids and team leader of the expedition in Zambia and Tanzania during which most of the host fish used in this study was caught

DISCUSSION

LITERATURE CITED