Dorsal Rays Research Articles

Exostoma kottelati, a new species of catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Exostoma kottelati, new species, is described from the Ranga River, Brahmaputra basin, in Arunachal Pradesh state, northeastern India. It differs from congeners in the Brahmaputra River basin in having a longer adipose-fin base (33.4-36.0 % SL vs. 23.4-32.9), a greater (except E. mangdechhuensis) pre-pelvic length (45.6-47.3 % SL vs. 39.3-44.6) and a greater pre-anal length (73.9-76.5 % SL vs. 62.2-70.1). It further differs from all known congeners by the following unique combination characters: the adipose fin is distinctly separated from the dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays, pre-dorsal length 38.9-41.7% SL, adipose-fin base length 33.4-36 % SL, caudal peduncle length 18.7-21.1 % SL, caudal peduncle depth 8.8-9.5 % SL, and body depth at anus 12.5-13.5 % SL. This is the fifth species of Exostoma known from the Brahmaputra River basin.

Measurement of Dorsal First Ray Mobility: A Topical Historical Review and Commentary.

Despite evidence that instability of the first ray (first metatarsal and medial cuneiform) alters the loading mechanics of the foot, surprisingly few studies have linked the condition with disorders of the foot. A factor limiting this research is the difficulty associated with measuring first ray mobility (FRM). To quantify dorsal FRM, clinicians and researchers have devised a variety of methods that impose a dorsally directed load, and record displacement. The methods include manual examination, radiographs, mechanical devices, and handheld rulers. Since different methods yield different results; each of these methods is worthy of scrutiny. This article reviews the methods used to quantify dorsal FRM and offers commentary on how the testing procedures could be standardized. The measurement of dorsal FRM informs surgical decisions, orthotic prescriptions, and research design strategies mostly as it pertains to the identification and treatment of first ray hypermobility. This review found sufficient support to recommend continued use of radiographs and mechanical devices for quantifying dorsal displacement, whereas measurements acquired with handheld rulers are prone to the same subjective error attributed to manual examination procedures. Since measures made with radiographs and existing mechanical devices have their own drawbacks, the commentary recommends ideas for standardizing the testing procedure and calls for the development of a next-generation device to measure dorsal FRM. This future device could be modeled after arthrometers that exist and are used to quantify stability at the knee and ankle. Level of Evidence: Level V, expert opinion.

Rediscovery and redescription of the endangered Hypostomus subcarinatus Castelnau, 1855 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio São Francisco basin in Brazil.

Hypostomus subcarinatus Castelnau, 1855 is rediscovered in the Lagoa da Pampulha, an urban lake in the Rio das Velhas basin (Rio São Francisco system) in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Herein, H. subcarinatus is redescribed and diagnosed from its congeners based on characters such as blue-tan dorsal fin in live specimens, slender bicuspid teeth, dentaries angled more than 90 degrees, moderate keels along lateral series of plates, small roundish dark spots, one plate bordering supraoccipital, by having nuptial odontodes mainly on pectoral, dorsal and caudal-fin rays, and long anal-fin unbranched ray. The rediscovery of H. subcarinatus more than 160 years after its original description was an unexpected event, because the Lagoa da Pampulha is an artificial, silted and polluted urban lake. The lake is located in downtown Belo Horizonte, the third largest urban agglomeration in Brazil with a population exceeding 5.9 million inhabitants.

Taxonomic Justification of the Pathogenic Strongylid Infecting the Arabian Camel Camelus Dromedarius as Haemonchus Longistipes by Morphological and Molecular Phylogeny.

IntroductionThere is still lack of morphological and phylogenetic information on the pathogenic nematode of the camel Haemonchus longistipes. In the present study, this parasite was isolated in Saudi Arabia and described.Material and MethodsThe abomasa of two Arabian camels were collected from a slaughterhouse in Abha province and examined for nematode infection. Worms were described morphologically and morphometrically by electron microscopy. Multiple sequence alignment and the phylogenetic tree of the parasite were constructed from maximum likelihood analysis of its ITS-2 rDNA sequences.ResultsThese nematodes had a slender body terminating anteriorly at a conspicuous dorsal lancet. A pair of lateral cervical papillae distant from the anterior end was observed. The buccal aperture was hexagonal and surrounded by two amphids, six externo-labial papillae, and four cephalic papillae. Males terminated posteriorly at a bursa supported by spicules and lateral and dorsal rays. Females were linguiform and knobbed morphotypes with distinct ovijectors and a dorsal rim covering the anal pore. The taxonomy was confirmed by the morphology and number of the longitudinal cuticular ridges in a 43–46 range. The sequence alignment and phylogeny revealed 92% homology with H. longistipes (AJ577461.1), and the sequence was deposited into GenBank.ConclusionThe present study describes H. longistipes morphologically and molecularly which facilitates further discrimination of this species worldwide.

Two new species of Heptapterus (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the Uruguay River basin, Brazil.

As part of an ongoing taxonomic revision of the genus Heptapterus from the Laguna dos Patos and Uruguay River drainages and Atlantic coastal streams of southern Brazil and Uruguay, two new species closely related to Heptapterus mustelinus were identified. Both species are endemic to small tributaries of the Uruguay River. The two new species are distinguished from each other and from other species of Heptapterus by arrangement of cephalic and trunk laterosensory systems, number of vertebrae and number of dorsal, pectoral and anal-fin rays. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (coI and cytb) sequence data further supports distinctiveness of the two new species.

Morphology and distinguishing characteristics of cynoglossid larvae with double elongated dorsal rays in Osaka Bay, Japan

Morphology and distinguishing characteristics of cynoglossid larvae with double elongated dorsal rays in Osaka Bay, Japan

Taxonomy confirmation of Puntius cf. binotatus from Gunung Tujuh Lake, Jambi, Indonesia based on Cytochrome Oxidase-I (COI) gene

Roesma D. I, Tjong D. H, Karlina W, Aidil D. R. 2019. Taxonomy confirmation of Puntius cf. binotatus from Gunung Tujuh Lake based on Cytochrome Oxidase-I (COI) gene. Biodiversitas 20: 54-60. The population of Puntius cf. binotatus Gunung Tujuh Lake in considered as an isolated population which found in the 20-30 meters depth under the water Gunung Tujuh Lake, Sumatra Island. The species often exhibit different phenotypic characters and may genetic characters may also different due to their response to habitat/ecological conditions. Previous study on P. binotatus from several locations in West Sumatra showed the complexity of the genetic and morphological characters. A molecular study using COI gene of P. cf. binotatus from Gunung Tujuh Lake in Sumatera has been conducted to determine the taxonomic status of the fish. The distinct morphological characters of Puntius cf. binotatus is one black spot in the middle of the caudal and the absent of black spot on the base of the anterior dorsal ray. The analysis on COI gene showed that the range of sequence divergences between P. cf. binotatus Gunung Tujuh Lake and other Sumatra P. cf. binotatus is 3.1-7.6% and 4.1% to Barbodes banksi. This value represents the differences at the subspecies level of Barbodes banksi. Therefore Barbodes banksi gunungtujuh is proposed as an appropriate name to P. cf. binotatus Gunung Tujuh Lake.

Chelonodontops bengalensis (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae): A New Species of Puffer Fish from the Northern Bay of Bengal Based on Morphology and DNA Barcode

The new puffer fish species Chelonodontops bengalensis (Pisces: Tetraodontidae) is described from two specimens collected on the southwest coast of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. C. bengalensis is closely related to C. patoca (Hamilton, 1822), both species being large puffers with a peculiar, disc-shaped exposed nasal organ. The new species however differs from C. patoca with respect to dorsal rays (12 vs 10), anal rays (10 vs 8), pectoral rays (19 vs 15–16) and gill rakers (8 vs 7). C. bengalensis has spinules on its lateral sides but not on the caudal peduncle (vs. a patch of spinules on the back from behind the interorbital nearly to the dorsal fin and another on the throat and abdomen but absent on the lateral sides in C. patoca). Both the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial COI gene and 16S rRNA gene region of C. bengalensis showed a clear monophyletic clade that distinguishes it as a separate species in the phylogenetic tree from other closely related puffer fish species. The COI barcode region shows a genetic divergence of 6 to 7.6% between C. bengalensis and C. patoca reported in GenBank from different parts of Asia.

Pseudanthias emma new species, with notes on a collection of anthiadine serranid fishes from off Myanmar (eastern Indian Ocean).

Recent exploratory trawling off the coast of Myanmar by the R/V Dr Fridtjof Nansen has resulted in the collection of six species of anthiadine serranid fishes. Four of the species are represented by specimen vouchers: Pseudanthias emma sp. nov., P. gibbosus (Klunzinger), Odontanthias rhodopeplus (Günther) and Plectranthias sp. 1. The remaining two species are represented only by photographs: Plectranthias sp. 2 and Sacura sanguinea Motomura, Yoshida Vilasri. Pseudanthias emma is described from the 107 mm SL holotype. It is distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of characters: dorsal rays X,16; pectoral rays 18; lateral-line scales 42; third dorsal-fin spine longest, prolonged; no papillae on posterior margin of orbit; soft part of dorsal with low scaly sheath; subopercle and interopercle indistinctly serrated; caudal fin weakly concave centrally, with elongate filaments extending from second to uppermost and second to lowermost branched rays. Plectranthias sp. 1 is a probable new species closely allied to P. sagamiensis (Katayama), from which it appears to differ in having fewer segmented dorsal rays and fewer rows of cheek scales. Plectranthias sp. 2 is a probable new species closely allied to P. alcocki Bineesh, Akhilesh, Gopalakrishnan Jena, from which it appears to differ in lacking a large black spot on the operculum and dusky ventral spot on the abdomen. New character, habitat and distribution information is provided for all six species. Pseudanthias vizagensis Krishna, Rao Venu is suggested as a probable junior synonym of P. pillai Heemstra Akhilesh.

First record of the elusive Freshwater snapper Lutjanus fuscescens (Valenciennes, 1830) in Palawan, Philippines

The Freshwater snapper (Lutjanus fuscescens) is a large species of snapper that inhabits freshwater and brackish water habitats (Martinez-Andrade, 2003). Unlike other snapper species, the complete lifecycle of the species takes place in freshwater habitats. The Freshwater snapper is known to grow up to 40 cm, making it one of the largest species of snapper (Allen 1985), and it is thought to act as a top predator feeding on different smaller fishes. Despite its large size, the species remains understudied and little is known about it. The species is known from Southeast Asia where it has been found in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, the Solomon Island, Timor-Leste and the Philippines (Miller and Cribb 2007; Polhemus et al. 2008; Larson et al. 2007). Within the Philippines, the species is mainly known from the island of Mindanao, which is in the southeast of the archipelago. As part of their work for a proposed conservation project in Cleopatra’s Needle mountain range, two local biologists trekking upstream along the Langogan River on the northern border of Puerto Princesa City encountered the Batak Tribe on 24 February 2015 with their newly caught fishes from the river. The Langogan River is one of the largest rivers which originated from the Cleopatra’s Needle forest (Figure 1) in the north eastern part of Puerto Princesa City (van Beijnen and Jose in press). Five large fish locally called “Magaragan” caught by the Batak Tribe in Langogan River were noted among others. They described the behavior of the fish as aggressive and none of the hunters dared to spearfish in its known habitat. They explained further that ever since they have not caught this species in the lower downstream of the river. The species approximately weighs between 5-25 kg and the total lengths ranged between 30 and 90 cm (Figure 2). Besides being a freshwater species, the fish has a truncated caudal fin with a prominent dark spot on the body right below the second dorsal fin, greyish-brown back and side colors, whitish on belly and bisected by lateral line below its anterior soft dorsal rays which are characteristics resembling that of Lutjanus fuscesens. The coloration of the freshwater snapper is lighter compared to Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) which is likewise known to reach lower freshwater habitats (Allen 1985). The identification of the species was further confirmed by fish experts in the Philippines. Lastly the Batak noted that their snapper species catch in this trip were medium sizes, as fully grown individuals can reach the same size as the stretch length of their two arms (approximately 120 – 140 cm), much higher that the reported 40 cm maximum length (Allen 1985). This was an opportunistic observation of the two local biologists so no actual measurements were made and no specimens were collected. The species status has not yet been assessed by IUCN while there are no official records in the province of Palawan. The fish could be easily overexploited by outsiders because of its limited distribution and large size. Additional threats to the population in Langogan River include illegal gold mining activities in the area and a proposed paved provincial road along the river to cross the island from the east coast to the west coast, which most probably would mean the end of this local fish population. Additionally, a hydropower project is proposed at the upstream portion of the Langogan River which needs to be planned well as a recently published study shows that about 1/3 of the world’s freshwater fish species are under threat due to hydropower development (Nam et al. 2016). Furthermore, there have been unconfirmed reports of Freshwater snapper in the upper portions of the Iwahig River in central Puerto Princesa that should be further investigated to get more clarity on the distribution of the species within Palawan. To further understand its biology and ecology, as well as its economic potential for fisheries in the province, it is highly recommended to obtain specimen/s of the species for further scientific studies and purposes while further researches and assessments of the species in this newly recorded geographical range and in the whole province of Palawan are necessary. Lastly, this new record of the species together with several new other discoveries for the area should provide sufficient arguments to enthuse the local government to provide the whole Cleopatra’s Needle Mountain Range with an official protective status.

ANTHIAS HUTOMOI, A NEW SPECIES OF SERRANID FISH FROM INDONESIA (PERCIFORMES, SERRANIDAE)

Anthias hutomoi, a member of the family Serranidae (subfamily Anthiinae) is described from 11 specimens taken by trawl at Seram, Indonesia. It appears to be allied to Anthias cichlops (BLEEKER,), but differs in several important respects, including head length, caudal shape, and counts for the lateral-line, soft dorsal rays, and pectoral rays.

Saddleback Deformities in Fish Species Collected from the Arabian Gulf Coast of Jubail City, Saudi Arabia

The saddleback syndromes were observed in several commercial fishes obtained from Saudi Arabian coast of the Arabian Gulf. These deformities resulting in missing dorsal spines or rays, sometimes accompanied by a depression in the dorsal profile, were found in ten fish species from seven families. Other morphological abnormalities such as scale disturbances, lateral line deformity, and kyphosis, the presence of a lesion, slight ambicoloration, and supraneural deformities accompanying the saddleback deformity were also observed. The occurrence of similar deformities across such a spectrum of fishes from the same location suggests that the abnormalities were induced by something in the environment common to all these species.

A new record of yellowmargin triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus) (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh proximity

Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Ruppell, 1829) is a triggerfish species belonging to the Family Balistidae under the Order Tetraodontiformes. It was reported at the very first time from the region proximal to the south patches fishing ground of the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh). The fish is known as Yellowmargin triggerfish due to the presence of body colour, yellow and gray. The total length of the voucher fish is 39.95 cm (Standard length 32.5 cm) and 1540 g by weight. It has a deep, moderately compressed body with inconspicuous lateral lines, encased in very thick and hard skin with large boney scales (except rostral region). The fish body bears two dorsal fins with three visible spines. Dorsal, anal and pectoral-fin rays are soft and branched. The taxonomic formula for the species is D III/27; A 0/25; P 15; V I/7; C 15; Lt. 35-36. Gill openings are moderately short, vertical to oblique slit in front of pectoral-fin base. Concerning distribution, the species is not reported before in Bangladesh and not even recorded from other maritime Bay of Bengal localities of Eastern India and Sri Lanka; whereas it was already reported in other bio-geographical regions (detailed in article). The voucher specimen is preserved at the Marine Fisheries Academy Museum, Bangladesh for further reference use.J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2017, 3(2): 85-90

Comparison of meristic traits in Transcaucasian chub (Squalius turcicus De Filippi, 1865) from Caspian Sea basin

For comparison of meristic characters of Squalius turcicus , in 12 rivers of Caspian Sea basin, 535 specimens were captured. Some 14 meristic characters were counted. Classification of meristic characters showed that most specimens of all populations have 8 soft dorsal rays, 9 soft anal rays, 19 branched caudal fin rays, 15 soft pectoral rays, 9 soft pelvic rays, 41-47 lateral line scales, 7-9 scales above LL, 3-5 scales below LL, 18-21 predorsal scales and 14-16 circumpeduncle scales. The results showed significant differences ( P <0.05) in means of all meristic characters except dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fin spins between the populations. The PCA and CVA showed overlapping among the populations, although some populations were separated from the others. Also, cluster analysis divided Divandareh River population in a separate group and it was distinct from other populations. Generally, the results of meristic characters cannot well-separate the populations of this species from each other.

New species of Labiobulura (Nematoda: Ascaridida), and Dorcopsinema and Paralabiostrongylus (Nematoda: Strongylida) from Dorcopsis muelleri (Macropodidae) from Lengguru, West Papua, Indonesia

ABSTRACTA new species of the Subuluridae (Nematoda: Ascaridida) Labiobulura lengguruensis n. sp. is described from the caecum and colon and two new species of the Chabertiidae: Cloacininae (Nematoda: Strongylida) Paralabiostrongylus tuberis n. sp. and Dorcopsinema amplum n. sp. are described from the stomachof the macropodid marsupial Dorcopsis muelleri (Lesson, 1827) (Mammalia: Macropodidae) in Papua Indonesia. Labiobulura lengguruensis differs from all congeners in having a simple denticle associated with each labial lobe of the buccal capsule. Paralabiostrongylus tuberis can be distinguished from its congeners in by the position of the deirid and the form of the dorsal ray and genital cone. Dorcopsinema amplum can be distinguished from its congeners by the length of the spicule, the morphology of the appendages on the ventral lip of the genital cone, the position of the lateral branches of the dorsal ray, the shape of the female tail, the morphology of the vagina and the size of the eggs.The known nematode fauna of D. muelleri is summarised. The finding of three species of Dorcopsinema each in a different geographical locality suggests the possibility of allopatric speciation. A revised key to the species of Dorcopsinema is given.

Morphometric and meristic characteristics of silver catfish Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepède, 1803) (Siluriformes: Claroteidae) from Epe Lagoon, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

The morphometric and meristic characteristics of 300 fish samples of silver catfish Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepède, 1803) (Siluriformes: Claroteidae) inhabiting the Epe Lagoon, Lagos, was conducted between October 2012 and January 2013 in order to investigate the growth and health status of this species. The meristic characteristics deduced in this study were counted and ranged as follows; dorsal spine had constant value of one all through, and the pectoral spine had a constant value of two, dorsal rays were counted 6-7 (6.03 +/- 0.25), pectoral rays were counted 6-7 (6.04 +/- 0.27), gill rakers were counted 15-18 (17.86 +/- 0.96), opercula bones were counted 2-4 (3.22 +/- 1.11) and vertebrae count was 8-10 (8.43 +/- 1.95). All the morphometric characteristics except body weight were measured with measuring board of precision of 0.1 cm. Body weight was measured with a metler electronic chemical balance of precision of 0.1 g. Morphometric data includes total length 15.5-38.5 cm (25.43 +/- 3.87 cm), fork length 2.0-11.6 cm (8.61 +/- 1.53 cm), standard length 10.0-28.3 cm (17.85 +/- 3.90 cm), head length 2.0-3.5 cm (2.91 +/- 0.79 cm), head depth 1.0-3.3 cm (2.41 +/- 1.05 cm), eye diameter 0.5 1.0 cm (1.28 +/- 0.77 cm), body depth 1.6-6.5 cm (3.57 +/- 0.90 cm) and body weight 24.5-451.6 g (157.48 +/- 5.60 g). The length and the weight of this species were not directly proportional. Growth parameter has a negative allometric range (b = 0.256) and the condition factor (k) ranged from 0.103-2.97 (1.08 +/- 0.64) which indicated a good condition of the fish species in the Lagoon. This study provided baselines of the population structure of this species in Epe Lagoon, Lagos State and also shown that their present growth pattern calls for further monitoring.

Genetic and morphological discrimination of three species of ninespined stickleback Pungitius spp. (Teleostei, Gasterosteidae) in France with the revalidation of Pungitius vulgaris (Mauduyt, 1848)

The taxonomy of French ninespined sticklebacks (Pungitius spp.) has long been controver- sial. To clarify the taxonomy in this group, we use mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (RNF213) sequence markers, as well as morphological data. In France, both genetic mark- ers discriminate three evolutionary lineages. Morphological analysis on fresh and type specimens supports the different lineages and the existence of three species in France. Pungitius pungitius, occurring in the North of France and Rhone basin, is characterized by specimens longer than 35 mm SL, by a flat head with a straight or slightly concave snout, typically 9–10 dorsal spines, 10–11 dorsal soft rays, 9–10 anal soft rays, 0–12 scutes on the caudal peduncle with a keel reaching the last anal-fin ray, longer pelvic fin, post-dor- sal and caudal peduncle lengths, and a slim caudal peduncle (caudal peduncle depth/ length 11.8%–21.9%). Pungitius laevis, occurring in France, in the English Channel basins and Loire drainage, differs from the other species by a head rounded with concave snout in specimens longer than 35 mm SL, accentuating the impression of fleshy lips, 0–4 scutes on the caudal peduncle and a higher caudal peduncle depth/length ratio (15.7%– 34.5%). Finally, Pungitius vulgaris, endemic to the Vienne River and rivers of south-wes- tern France as far north as the Garonne estuary, is differentiated by a rounded head with a straight or slightly convex snout, the absence of scutes on the caudal peduncle and by having 11 pectoral-fin rays. Our data confirm the existence of a hybridization zone in the North of France between P. pungitius and P. laevis. As a result, Pungitius lotharingus is invalid, as it was described based on hybrid specimens. A lectotype for P. laevis was des- ignated because the syntypes included hybrids. This revision provides new perspectives for evolutionary biology studies and will have consequences for Pungitius conservation in France.

Pudicinae (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) Parasitic in Endemic Chilean Rodents (Caviomorpha: Octodontidae and Abrocomidae): Description of a New Species and Emended Description of Pudica degusi (Babero and Cattan) n. comb.

We report the finding of 2 species of Pudica (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae: Pudicinae) in 2 rodents endemic to Chile, the common degu Octodon degus (Octodontidae) and the Bennett's chinchilla rat Abrocoma bennettii (Abrocomidae). Pudica degusi ( Babero and Cattan, 1975 ) n. comb., originally described as a species of Longistriata (Heligmosomidae), was found in the common degu; through the study of its synlophe, the species is reassigned to the Heligmonellidae: Pudicinae and the genus Pudica, and it is revalidated through comparison with the remaining species of the genus. Pudica cattani n. sp. is described from both O. degus and A. bennettii. It is characterized by its large body size, bursal pattern of type 1-3-1 on right lobe, 1-3-1 tending to 1-4 on left lobe, synlophe with 11 ridges including a careen, dorsal ray of the bursa dividing proximally and bursal rays 9 and 10 relatively short. Pudica degusi n. comb. and Pudica cattani n. sp. were found in the same host species but not as coparasitic in the same individuals. The common degu is confirmed as the sole and primary host of Pudica degusi n. comb. It is unlikely that it is the primary host for Pudica cattani n. sp., whose host affinities are less clear mainly due to the scarcity of data. Pudica cattani n. sp. is the first helminth reported from the Bennett's chinchilla rat. Both findings enlarge the host range of the Pudicinae to the families Octodontidae and Abrocomidae, i.e., 9 out of the 11 extant families of caviomorphs, thereby establishing the presence of this nematode subfamily as typical parasites of the Neotropical Hystricognathi.

Living in the waterfalls: A new species of Trichomycterus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Tabay stream, Misiones, Argentina

A new species assigned to the genus Trichomycterus from the area of the waterfalls of Tabay stream, Paraná River basin, Misiones, Argentina, is described. Trichomycterus ytororo sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species in the genus by the presence of 31–35 dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays and the combination of some external characters such as: coloration, number of pectoral–fin rays and pores of the laterosensory canals. The new taxon belongs to a presumably monophyletic group of species composed of T. crassicaudatus, T. igobi, and T. stawiarski based on the presence of 24 or more thickly ossified and rigid procurrent caudal-fin rays with a slender distal tip extending along the tips of at least ten neural spines.

Ancylostoma ailuropodae n. sp. (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae), a new hookworm parasite isolated from wild giant pandas in Southwest China

BackgroundHookworms belonging to the genus Ancylostoma (Dubini, 1843) cause ancylostomiasis, a disease of considerable concern in humans and domestic and wild animals. Molecular and epidemiological data support evidence for the zoonotic potential among species of Ancylostoma where transmission to humans is facilitated by rapid urbanization and increased human-wildlife interactions. It is important to assess and describe these potential zoonotic parasite species in wildlife, especially in hosts that have physiological similarities to humans and share their habitat. Moreover, defining species diversity within parasite groups that can circulate among free-ranging host species and humans also provides a pathway to understanding the distribution of infection and disease. In this study, we describe a previously unrecognized species of hookworm in the genus Ancylostoma in the giant panda, including criteria for morphological and molecular characterization.MethodsThe hookworm specimens were obtained from a wild giant panda that died in the Fengtongzai Natural Reserve in Sichuan Province of China in November 2013. They were microscopically examined and then genetically analyzed by sequencing the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes in two representative specimens (one female and one male, FTZ1 and FTZ2, respectively).ResultsAncylostoma ailuropodae n. sp. is proposed for these hookworms. Morphologically the hookworm specimens differ from other congeneric species primarily based on the structure of the buccal capsule in males and females, characterized by 2 pairs of ventrolateral and 2 pairs of dorsolateral teeth; males differ in the structure and shape of the copulatory bursa, where the dorsal ray possesses 2 digitations. Pairwise nuclear and mitochondrial DNA comparisons, genetic distance analysis, and phylogenetic data strongly indicate that A. ailuropodae from giant pandas is a separate species which shared a most recent common ancestor with A. ceylanicum Looss, 1911 in the genus Ancylostoma (family Ancylostomatidae).ConclusionAncylostoma ailuropodae n. sp. is the fourth species of hookworm described from the Ursidae and the fifteenth species assigned to the genus Ancylostoma. A sister-species association with A. ceylanicum and phylogenetic distinctiveness from the monophyletic Uncinaria Frölich, 1789 among ursids and other carnivorans indicate a history of host colonization in the evolutionary radiation among ancylostomatid hookworms. Further, phylogenetic relationships among bears and a history of ecological and geographical isolation for giant pandas may be consistent with two independent events of host colonization in the diversification of Ancylostoma among ursid hosts. A history for host colonization within this assemblage and the relationship for A. ailuropodae n. sp. demonstrate the potential of this species as a zoonotic parasite and as a possible threat to human health. The cumulative morphological, molecular and phylogenetic data presented for A. ailuropodae n. sp. provides a better understanding of the taxonomy, diagnostics and evolutionary biology of the hookworms.