Ligophorus surianoae Dmitrieva, Gerasev, Gibson, Pronkina, Galli, 2012 parasite in collection

Type host

Liza carinata (Valenciennes)

Type locality

Red Sea, Ras Mohammed National Park

Short description:

General internal morphology and haptoral armaments all conform to diagnose of genus Ligophorus sensu Euzet & Suriano (1977). Middle-sized worms, 760±15 (700-800) long, 225±12 (190-250) wide, with flattened body. Both pairs of anchors elongate, with distal and proximal parts of similar length and forming obtuse angle; point short, almost at right angle. Ventral anchor: inner length 52.5±0.4 (51-56), length of distal part 33.5±0.1 (33-34), length of shafts 33±0.2 (32-34), length of points 9, inner length of proximal part 28.5±0.5 (27-34), outer length of proximal part 25.5±0.4 (24-30) and span between roots 17.5±0.3 (15-19). Ventral anchors larger than dorsal, with inner and outer lengths of proximal part virtually equal, while inner length of proximal part significantly longer than outer in dorsal anchors. Dorsal anchors: inner length - 47±0.3 (46-50), length of distal part - 27.5±0.2 (27-29); length of shafts - 27±0.2 (26-29); length of points - 8±0.1 (7-8); inner length of proximal part - 27±0.2 (25-28); outer length of proximal part - 18.5±0.2 (18-20) and span between roots - 14.5±0.2 (14-16). Marginal hooks 13±0.1 (13-14) long. Dorsal bar 5.5±0.2 (5-7) high, 56 В± 1.5 (48-68) wide, in most cases, slightly curved, equal in height along its entire width, with slight prominence in middle of posterior margin and lateral extremities slightly up-turned or, rarely, bowed. Ventral bar 12.5±0.4 (10-15) high, 50±0.4 (47-53) wide, with 2 digitiform anterior processes, 10±0.2 (911) long, positioned relatively closely together, span between them 5±0.3 (4-7); ventral side of ventral bar with rather narrow, wing-shaped laminae attached to each anterior process; median knoll, in most cases, with flat or sometimes slightly prominent anterior margin, situated between laminae. Male copulatory organ consists of copulatory tube, with expanded base, and accessory piece, latter not articulated with other parts of MCO. Copulatory tube narrow and rather long: 1 wide, 99±0.6 (95-103) long; expanded base bipartite. Accessory piece 6,5±0.3 (5-8) wide, 34±0.5 (32-38) long, forms gutter with deep, U-shaped cross-section, partly encloses copulatory tube, tapers proximally, with 2 small processes directed towards distal end situated not far from distal extremity; side-walls of accessory piece drawn close together at distal end, practically surrounding tube near distal opening. Muscular sheath surrounding copulatory tube attaches close to distal end of accessory piece. Vagina, 44±0.7 (4247) long, typical for genus, forming narrow, sinuous tube with armature represented by solid walls; distal aperture in form of shallow funnel resembling nail-head in side view.

Bibliography

First published in

Dmitrieva E. V., Gerasev P. I., Gibson D. I., Pronkina N. V., Galli P. 2012. Descriptions of eight new species of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from Red Sea mullets. Systematic Parasitology, 81, P. 203–237.

Specimens in collection