Supplemental description of Nyctotheroides pyriformis n. comb. (=Macrocytopharynxa pyriformis (Nie, 1932) Li et al. 2002) from frog hosts with consideration of the validity of the genus Macrocytopharynxa (Armophorea, Clevelandellida)

Abstract

The morphological revisions of Macrocytopharynxa pyriformis (Nie, 1932) Li et al., 2002; collected from the rectum of Fejervarya limnocharis (=Rana limnocharis), are presented in this paper: (1) two surfaces of the organism are not identical – left side narrower and convex, right broader and flat or slightly concave; (2) infundibulum is large and well-developed with no “fold” or “plicature” present in the middle or posterior portion; (3) micronucleus is tiny and ovoid shaped and always embedded in the middle concavity of macronucleus, which can be well revealed by ammoniacal silver staining. Our phylogenetic analysis based on SSU-rDNA showed that M. pyriformis fell into the Nyctotheroides clade, within which four definite Nyctotheroides species were involved – N. cordiformis, N. deslierresae, N. parvus and N. hubeiensis. In combination with their morphological features, we discussed the reliability of using karyophore organelles or kinetal suture patterns as the generic taxonomic criteria. Besides, we considered that the genus Macrocytopharynxa is a junior synonym of Nyctotheroides and we transfer its type species to Nyctotheroides as Nyctotheroides pyriformis n. comb. The phylogenetic pattern of the family Nyctotheridae was also indicated in our work, but it will be necessary to analyze more species from fishes and reptiles before coming to a sound conclusion.