DESCRIPTION OF FOUR NEW SPECIES OF SENGA (PLATYHELMINTHES: CESTOIDEA) FROM FRESHWATER FISHES OF INDIA

Abstract

The genus Senga6 contains 47 valid species. Four new species of Senga6, reported from India.Senga kakdwipensis sp.nov. collected from the intestine of a freshwater fish, Mastacembelus armatus from Kakdwip, South 24-Parganas, West Bengal; Senga bengalensis sp.nov. collected from the freshwater fish, Mastacembelus armatus from Hasnabad, North 24-Parganas, West Bengal; Senga orissaensis sp.nov. collected from the intestine of a freshwater fish, Channa punctatus from Puri district of Orissa and Senga nagalandensis sp.nov. collected from the intestine of a freshwater fish Colisa fasciata from Mokokchung district of Nagaland. Senga kakdwipensis sp.nov. characterized by a triangular scolex, 0.115-0.56 in length and 0.275-0.08 in breadth ; absence of neck; rostellar hooks arranged in a single circle, 46-56 in number and testes 45-48 in number. Senga bengalensis sp.nov. characterized by a triangular scolex, 0.23-0.445 in length and 0.085-0.27 in breadth; a pair of fleshy bothria present; rostellar hooks 48-50 in number of two different sizes arranged in two semicircles; presence of neck; testes 50-60 in number.Senga orissaensis sp.nov. characterized by a pear-shaped scolex that measures 0.1 in length and 0.2 in breadth; rostellar hooks 54 in number arranged in two semicircles; presence of short apical disc; short neck present; testes 39-40 in number. Senga nagalandensis sp.nov. characterized by an ovoid scolex with a pair of fleshy half-moon-shaped bothria, measures 0.45 x 0.35; apical disc present and is provided with 46 unequal rostellar hooks arranged in a single circle; neck absent; testes are 60-70 in number. The presence of these new morphological characters differentiates the three observed new species from the rest of the described species in the genus.