New collections of blood flukes (Aporocotylidae) from fishes of the tropical Indo-west Pacific, including a new genus, two new species and molecular evidence that Elaphrobates chaetodontis (Yamaguti, 1970) is widespread in the region

Abstract

We report new collections of the Aporocotylidae from Australia, French Polynesia, and Japan. A new species of Cardicola Short, 1953 is described from Scomberomorus commerson (Lacépède) (Scombridae), off Lizard Island. Cardicola nolani n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeners based on the position of the oötype, the position of the male genital pore, and the absence of an oral sucker. A new species is described from Abalistes stellatus (Anonymous) (Balistidae), also from off Lizard Island. Phylogenetically the new species forms a strongly-supported clade with Cardicola yuelao Yong, Cutmore & Cribb, 2018, which also infects balistids. These two species are distinct from all other aporocotylids in the combination of exceptionally short anterior and long posterior caeca, a lanceolate body, a single testis, an entirely post-ovarian uterus and the position of the oötype; a new genus, Balistidicola, is proposed for them. Balistidicola corneri n. sp. and B. yuelao (Yong, Cutmore & Cribb, 2018) n. comb. are essentially morphologically cryptic, only distinguishable by the form of the spination (B. corneri has five spines per row and B. yuelao has six). Elaphrobates chaetodontis (Yamaguti, 1970) is reported from 21 species of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) from nine locations in tropical Indo-west Pacific; cox1 sequence data demonstrate extensive geographical structuring in this species. Braya jexi Nolan & Cribb, 2006, Elaphrobates milleri (Nolan & Cribb, 2006), and P. corventum Overstreet & Køie, 1989 are each re-reported from their type-hosts, and Pearsonellum pygmaeus Nolan & Cribb, 2004 and Balistidicola yuelao are each reported from a new host.