Trematodes of Fishes from the Red Sea, Part 19. On Three New Species of Podocotyle (Family Allocreadiidae)

Abstract

Species of trematodes described from fishes of the Red Sea are: Podocotyle serrani sp. n., from Serranus sp.; Podocotyle sp., from Serranus sp.; and Podocotyle bongosi sp. n., from a fish locally known as bongos. The author places the genus Podocotyle in the family Allocreadiidae. The trematodes described below were collected by the authors at the Marine Biological Station at Ghardaga, Red Sea. Type specimens are deposited in the Department of Parasitology of Faculty of Medicine, Ein-Shams University, Abbassia, Egypt. All measurements are in millimeters. Family Allocreadiidae Subfamily Allocreadiinae Podocotyle serrani sp. n. (fig. 1) Description based on whole mount of four specimens from Serranus species locally called Koshar. Body 1.58 to 2.10 long, 0.41 to 0.59 wide, with numerous dermal gland cells especially at anterior part; both ends rounded, posterior end may be slightly notched; cuticle slightly annulated, otherwise smooth. Oral sucker 0.11 to 0.18 by 0.15 to 0.17, subterminal; 0.05 to 0.06 from anterior extremity. Pharynx 0.11 to 0.12 by 0.09 to 0.12, overlapped anteriorly by oral sucker. Esophagus very short. Intestinal ceca terminate 0.06 to 0.07 from posterior end of body. Ventral sucker 0.27 to 0.33 by 0.32 to 0.42, overlapping ceca, almost onethird of body length from anterior end. Ratio of oral to ventral suckers 0.4:1. Testes two, intercecal, smooth, diagonal; anterior testis 0.11 to 0.17 by 0.09 to 0.15, posterior testis 0.14 to 0.17 by 0.12 to 0.18, near posterior part of middle third of body length. Cirrus sac slightly sinuous, extending behind acetabulum, swollen posteriorly, narrower anteriorly; genital pore to left of median line at level of intestinal bifurcation. Ovary intercecal, submedian on right, in second third of body length; smooth, globular, 0.14 to 0.26 by 0.12 to 0.21, anterolateral to anterior testis; receptaculum seminis small, transversely elongate overlapping ovary. Vitellaria of numerous small follicles, partly extracecal and partly intercecal, overlapping ceca and part of ovary and testes, from slightly posterior to acetabulum almost to posterior extremity. Uterus intercecal, between anterior testis and acetabulum. Eggs few, large, oval, averaging 0.08 by 0.04. Comparisons: This species differs from all species of Podocotyle except P. mecopera ManReceived for publication 22 January 1962. ter, 1940, in having an entire ovary and in the posterior extent of the cirrus sac. But differs from P. mecopera in having: (I) vitellaria reaching almost to the posterior border of the acetabulum instead of terminating at the ovarian level; and diagonal rather than tandem testes. Podocotyle sp. (fig. 2) Description based on whole mount of a single specimen from Serranus sp. locally called Koshar. Body 2.37 long, 0.90 wide, narrow anteriorly, wider posteriorly; cuticle smooth. Oral sucker subterminal, 0.26 by 0.29. Prepharynx 0.03 long; pharynx well developed, 0.26 by 0.23; esophagus 0.17 long; ceca terminating 0.21 from posterior end of body. Ventral sucker 0.48 by 0.41, slightly overlapping ceca, at middle third of body length; ratio of oral to ventral suckers 0.6:1. Testes two, in posterior third of body, intercecal, smooth, diagonal with left testis anteriormost, measuring 0.26 by 0.23; right testis 0.26 in diameter. Cirrus pouch slightly sinuous, extending nearly to middle acetabulum. Genital pore in esophageal region. Ovary intercecal, pretesticular, submedian, fivelobed, 0.20 in diameter, in third quarter of body length. Receptaculum seminis well developed, spheroid, 0.17 by 0.18, just preovarian. Vitellaria composed of irregular groups of small follicles, partly extracecal and partly intercecal, overlapping ceca and testes, from near posterior end of body to esophageal level on right side, midlevel of acetabulum on left. Uterus and excretory system not distinct. Comparisons: This species differs from all the others belonging to the genus Podocotyle Duj., 1845 (syn. Sinistroporus Stafford, 1904) mainly in: vitellaria extent and the position of genital opening. But as the uterus with the eggs could not be seen, this can be described as Podocotyle sp. Podocotyle bongosi sp. n. (fig. 3) Description based on whole mount of a single specimen from a fish host with local name