Two gonad-infecting species ofPhilometra(Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off the northern coast of Australia

František Moravec,Diane P Barton

doi:10.1051/parasite/2015008

Abstract

Two different gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 were collected from the ovary of marine perciform fishes, the blackspotted croaker Protonibea diacanthus (Sciaenidae) and the John’s snapper Lutjanus johnii (Lutjanidae), from off the northern coast of Australia. Nematodes (males and females) from P. diacanthus represent a new taxon, Philometra protonibeae n. sp., which is mainly characterized by the body length of the males (3.37–3. 90 mm), broad, equally long spicules (length 126–141 μm) and the shape and structure of the gubernaculum with a dorsally lamellate distal tip. The nematodes (only females) from L. johnii may represent an undescribed species, but, because of the absence of conspecific males, they could not be specifically identified. Philometra protonibeae is the fifth nominal gonad-infecting species of this genus recorded from marine fishes in Australian waters and the seventh species of these parasites described from fishes of the family Sciaenidae.

Highlights

OPEN ACCESSTwo gonad-infecting species of Philometra (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off the northern coast of Australia
The knowledge of the fauna of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) parasitizing fishes in Australian waters remains fragmentary
A total of 16 valid nominal species of these parasites belonging to the genera Buckleyella Rasheed, 1963 (1 species), Philometra Costa, 1845 (11 species), Philometroides Yamaguti, 1935 (3 species) and Spirophilometra

Summary

OPEN ACCESS

Two gonad-infecting species of Philometra (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine fishes off the northern coast of Australia. Abstract – Two different gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 were collected from the ovary of marine perciform fishes, the blackspotted croaker Protonibea diacanthus (Sciaenidae) and the John’s snapper Lutjanus johnii (Lutjanidae), from off the northern coast of Australia. Nematodes (males and females) from P. diacanthus represent a new taxon, Philometra protonibeae n. Résumé – Deux espèces de Philometra (Nematoda : Philometridae) parasites des gonades de poissons marins au large de la côte nord de l’Australie. Deux espèces différentes de Philometra Costa, 1845, parasites des gonades de poissons, ont été collectées des ovaires de poissons perciformes marins, Protonibea diacanthus (Sciaenidae) et Lutjanus johnii (Lutjanidae), au large de la côte nord de l’Australie.

Introduction

Lutjanus johnii

Materials and methods