Studies on Lethrinitrema Lim & Justine, 2011 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae), with the description of two new species, a key to the genus and a phylogenetic analysis based on rDNA sequences.

Abstract

Six species of Lethrinitrema Lim & Justine, 2011, including two new taxa, are described from the gills of Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål) from the South China Sea. Lethrinitrema nebulosum n. sp. differs from all other members of the genus in possessing a copulatory organ with a short, distally recurved tube, a cup-shaped base and a thin accessory piece, arising from distal end of tube, junction inconspicuous. Lethrinitrema zhanjiangense n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeners by possessing a copulatory organ with a C-shaped tube, a cup-shaped base and without accessory piece. Lethrinitrema grossecurvitubum (Li & Chen, 2005) n. comb. and Lethrinitrema austrosinense (Li & Chen, 2005) n. comb., previously included in Haliotrema Johnston & Tiegs, 1922, are transferred to Lethrinitrema and redescribed with additional details, including the intestinal caeca that unite posterior to gonads and continue posteriorly as two diverticula, and the elongate tubular distal end of each haptoral reservoir bifurcating prior to entering a superficial lateral groove on each side of the ventral anchor. The sclerotised parts of two unidentified species of Lethrinitrema are also described. Lethrinitrema sp. 1 differs from the other Lethrinitrema spp. in possessing a male copulatory organ consisting of a short tapered tube with a robust cup-shaped base and in lacking accessory piece. Lethrinitrema sp. 2 differs from its congeners in possessing a copulatory organ comprised of a short slender tube and without accessory piece, delicate ventral and dorsal bars, and poorly developed outer roots of the anchors. Sequences of partial 28S rDNA (domains D1-D2) and complete 18S rDNA for 27 dactylogyrids including five species of Lethrinitrema, i.e. Lethrinitrema fleti (Young, 1968) Lim & Justine, 2011, L. nebulosum, L. zhanjiangense, L. grossecurvitubum and Lethrinitrema sp. 1 were used to assess the monophyly of Lethrinitrema which was supported by high bootstrap values.