Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi explained

Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi is species of a diplectanid monogenean parasitic on the gills of the White grouper Epinephelus aeneus. It was described in 1984 as Diplectanum hargisi and transferred to the genus Pseudorhabdosynochus by Santos, Buchmann & Gibson in 2000.^{[1] [2] [3]} Its systematic position has been clarified by Kritsky, Bakenhaster & Adams in 2015, who differentiated it from Pseudorhabdosynochus americanus.^[4]

Description

Pseudorhabdosynochus hargisi is a small monogenean, 0.5-0.8 mm in length.^[1] The species has the general characteristics of other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus, with a flat body and a posterior haptor, which is the organ by which the monogenean attaches itself to the gill of is host. The haptor bears two squamodiscs, one ventral and one dorsal.The sclerotized male copulatory organ, or "quadriloculate organ", has the shape of a bean with four internal chambers, as in other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus.^[5] The vagina includes a sclerotized part, which is a complex structure.

Etymology

The name of the species, hargisi, honours "Dr W. J. Hargis Jr, from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point (USA)".^[1]

Hosts and localities

The type-locality is the Lagoon of Bardawil (Sinaï, Egypt). The type-host is the halfmoon grouper, Epinephelus aeneus.

Notes and References

1. Oliver, G. & Paperna, I. 1984: Diplectanidae Bychowsky, 1957 (Monogenea, Monopisthocotylea), parasites de Perciformes de Méditerranée orientale, de la mer Rouge et de l'océan Indien. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 4° série, 6, section A, 49-65.
2. Guy. Oliver. Les Diplectanidae Bychowsky, 1957 (Monogenea, Monopisthocotylea, Dactylogyridea). Systématique. Biologie. Ontogénie. Écologie. Essai de phylogenèse.. 2015 . Figshare . 10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.1295274. thesis . free.
3. Santos. Cláudia Portes. Buchmann. Kurt. Gibson. David I.. Pseudorhabdosynochus spp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) from the gills of Epinephelus spp. in Brazilian waters. Systematic Parasitology. 45. 2. 2000. 145–153. 0165-5752. 10.1023/A:1006232029426. 10743859. 26949491. free.
4. Kritsky. Delane C.. Bakenhaster. Micah D.. Adams. Douglas H.. Pseudorhabdosynochus species (Monogenoidea, Diplectanidae) parasitizing groupers (Serranidae, Epinephelinae, Epinephelini) in the western Atlantic Ocean and adjacent waters, with descriptions of 13 new species. Parasite. 22. 2015. 24. 1776-1042. 10.1051/parasite/2015024. 26272242. 4536336.
5. Kritsky . D. C. . Beverley-Burton . M. . 1986 . The status of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958, and Cycloplectanum Oliver, 1968 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) . Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington . 99 . 17–20 .