Edgar F. Mendoza-Franco

New and previously described species of Dactylogyridae (Monogenoidea) from the gills of Panamanian freshwater fishes (Teleostei).

During an investigation of the diversity of metazoan parasites of 7 freshwater fish species from 3 localities in central Panama, the following gill dactylogyrid (Monogenoidea) species were found: Aphanoblastella chagresii n. sp. from Pimelodella chagresi (Heptapteridae); Aphanoblastella travassosi (Price, 1938) Kritsky, Mendoza-Franco, and Scholz, 2000 from Rhamdia quelen (Heptapteridae); Diaphorocleidus petrosusi n. sp. from Brycon petrosus (Characidae); Gussevia asota Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1989, from Astronotus ocellatus (Cichlidae); Sciadicleithrum panamensis n. sp. from Aequidens coeruleopunctatus (Cichlidae); Urocleidoides flegomai n. sp. from Piabucina panamensis (Lebiasinidae); and Urocleidoides similuncus n. sp. from Poecilia gillii (Poeciliidae). Consideration of the comparative morphology and distribution of these parasites along with the evolutionary history of the host fishes suggests that diversification may be associated with geotectonic events that provided isolation of the Central American fauna with the uplift of the Panamanian Isthmus during early Pliocene (3 mya).

Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea) Parasitizing the Gills of Astyanax Spp. (Characidae) From Panama and Southeast Mexico, a New Species of Diaphorocleidus and a Proposal for Characithecium N. Gen

Abstract Diaphorocleidus orthodusus n. sp. and Diaphorocleidus kabatai (Molnar, Hanek and Fernando, 1974) Jogunoori, Kritsky, and Venkatanarasaiah, 2004 are detailed from Astyanax orthodus and Astyanax aeneus, respectively. Palombitrema heteroancistrium (Price and Bussing, 1968) is described from specimens collected from A. aeneus, and Urocleidoides strombicirrus (Price and Bussing, 1967) is reported for the first time from A. aeneus and Astyanax fasciatus in Panama. Characithecium costaricensis (Price and Bussing, 1967) n. comb. is detailed based on specimens from A. aeneus. Characithecium costaricensis is characterized by having overlapping gonads, a medioventral vaginal aperture, a copulatory complex consisting of single counterclockwise coil of the copulatory organ that is articulated to the accessory piece, and a haptor having 2 pairs of anchors, dorsal and ventral bars, and 14 hooks. Measurements of body size varied substantially among individual worms, both within and across different host species and locations. However, the morphological differences were insufficient to separate species of Characithecium. This result suggests limited parasite speciation across sympatric species of Astyanax in Mexico and Panama.

New species and geographical records of dactylogyrids (Monogenea) of catfish (Siluriformes) from the Peruvian Amazonia.

Abstract: Three new species of gill monogeneans (Dactylogyridae: Ancyrocephalinae) are described from siluriform catfish from Iquitos, Peru: Demidospermus mortenthaleri n. sp. from Brachyplatystoma juruense (Boulenger), Demidospermus brevicirrus n. sp. from Pimelodus sp., and Aphanoblastella aurorae n. sp. from Goeldiella eques (Müller & Troschel). Demidospermus mortenthaleri is characterized by a male copulatory organ (MCO) with a small loop at its middle portion; 2 types of hooks, of which pairs 5 and 6 are longer than the remaining hooks; a proximal subunit round and highly depressed thumb; and a sclerotized vagina with a round pad at the vaginal aperture. Demidospermus brevicirrus is distinguished from other congeners by the presence of a short, straight, and robust MCO and boot-shaped accessory piece with a hooked projection directed posteriorly. Aphanoblastella aurorae is the only species of the genus that possesses an arrow-shaped sclerotized vagina and a medial process on the dorsal bar. Another 6 dactylogyrids described previously are recorded for the first time from the Peruvian Amazonia: Cosmetocleithrum bulbocirrus Kritsky, Thatcher and Boeger, 1986; Vancleaveus fungulus Kritsky, Thatcher and Boeger, 1986; V. janauacaensis Kritsky, Thatcher and Boeger, 1986; V. platyrhynchi Kritsky, Thatcher and Boeger, 1986; Unilatus unilatus Mizelle and Kritsky, 1967; and U. brittani Mizelle, Kritsky and Crane, 1968. Based on observations of specimens collected in the Peruvian Amazonia, new morphological data for these species are provided. Comparison of new specimens of U. unilatus and U. brittani with those of Unilatus brevispinus Suriano, 1985 and Unilatus longispinus Suriano, 1985, both originally described from Brazil, has shown that they are conspecific. Therefore, the latter species were synonymized with U. unilatus and U. brittani, respectively. In addition, 56 undescribed monogeneans found in catfish from the Peruvian Amazonia, some of them probably belonging to new genera, are listed.

New and Previously Described Species of Urocleidoides (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae) Infecting the Gills and Nasal Cavities of Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes: Erythrinidae) From Brazil

Abstract During an investigation of the biodiversity and structure of parasite communities among native populations of the erythrinid fish Hoplias malabaricus (Characiformes) from 7 rivers in Brazil, the following monogenoidean (Dactylogyridae) species were found: Urocleidoides malabaricusi n. sp., Urocleidoides naris n. sp., Urocleidoides cuiabai n. sp., Urocleidoides brasiliensis n. sp., and Urocleidoides eremitus Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1986. Specimens considered as a new genus of Dactylogyridae were also found. The new species are mainly distinguished from the other 14 species of Urocleidoides in the general morphology of their copulatory and anchors/bar complexes. These new species and the new dactylogyrid genus are described, as well as supplemental observations and new illustrations of U. eremitus are provided. The present findings expand the known geographical distribution of species of Urocleidoides to southeastern and midwestern Brazil. A high speciation of this genus in the tropics is hypothesized, and it is briefly discussed.

PHYLOGENY OF SPECIES OF SCIADICLEITHRUM (MONOGENOIDEA: ANCYROCEPHALINAE), AND THEIR HISTORICAL BIOGEOGRAPHY IN THE NEOTROPICS

The phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of species of Sciadicleithrum parasitizing Neotropical cichlid fishes were studied. Hypotheses were: Did the presence of Sciadicleithrum species in southeast Mexico (SM) and Central America (CA) result from early dispersal of cichlid species from South America (SA) to the north via the Antilles during the Tertiary (24 million years ago [mya]), or did it occur after emergence of the Panama Isthmus in the Pleistocene (2–5 mya)? The Sciadicleithrum phylogeny was based on 19 morphological transformation series, with species of Gussevia and Cichlidogyrus as outgroups. The most parsimonious cladogram had a 40% consistency index, with one clade including all the species of Sciadicleithrum from SA and all but one of those from CA and another with all the Sciadicleithrum species from SM and S. maculicaudae from CA. Results support the late dispersal hypothesis following emergence of the Panama Isthmus. Fifteen species of Sciadicleithrum parasitize 13 cichlid species from SA and CA. In contrast, only 4 species of Sciadicleithrum infect 14 cichlid species from SM. Parasite speciation appears to lag behind host speciation, with 2 equally possible explanations: loss of parasite species and host switching.

Monogeneans (Dactylogyridae: Ancyrocephalinae) of Freshwater Fishes from the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua

Abstract The results of a systematic survey of species of monogeneans (Dactylogyridae) collected from the gills of pimelodid, poeciliid, cichlid, and characid fishes from the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua in 1999 are presented. The following species were recovered: Ameloblastella chavarriai and Aphanoblastella travassosi occurred on the gills of Rhamdia nicaraguensis; Salsuginus neotropicalis on Belonesox belizanus; Sciadicleithrum bravohollisae on Vieja maculicauda; Sciadicleithrum meekii on Archocentrus nigrofasciatus; Sciadicleithrum mexicanum on Cichlasoma urophthalmus, Parachromis dovii, Tomocichla tuba, V. maculicauda, and Parachromis managuense; Sciadicleithrum nicaraguense on Amphilophus alfari; and Palombitrema heteroancistrium, Urocleidoides costaricensis, and Urocleidoides strombicirrus on Astyanax fasciatus. Data on morphological and biometrical variability of individual species from different hosts are provided. Aspects of the zoogeographical distribution of the species found, which are mostly similar to those of southeastern Mexico, are discussed.

TUCUNARELLA N. GEN. AND OTHER DACTYLOGYRIDS (MONOGENOIDEA) FROM CICHLID FISH (PERCIFORMES) FROM PERUVIAN AMAZONIA

Abstract During parasitological research on cichlid fish from the tributaries of the Amazon River around Iquitos, Peru, the following gill monogenoidean species were found: Tucunarella cichlae n. gen. and n. sp. from Cichla monoculus Spix and Agassiz; Gussevia alioides Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1986 from Heros severus Heckel; Gussevia asota Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1989 from Astronotus ocellatus (Agassiz); Gussevia disparoides Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1986 from H. severus (all new geographical records) and Cichlasoma amazonarum Kullander (new host record); Gussevia longihaptor (Mizelle and Kritsky, 1969) Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1986 and Gussevia undulata Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1986 from C. monoculus; Sciadicleithrum satanopercae Yamada, Takemoto, Bellay, and Pavanelli, 2008 from Satanoperca jurupari Heckel; and Sciadicleithrum variabilum (Mizelle and Kritsky, 1969) Kritsky, Thatcher, and Boeger, 1989 from C. amazonarum (new host and geographical records). Tucunarella n. gen. is proposed to accommodate a new species, Tucunarella cichlae, which is its type and only known species in the genus. The new genus is characterized by, besides a very large body size (about 1.5 mm vs. much less than 1 mm in other ancyrocephaline genera in Amazonia), a thickened tegument, 1 pair of eyes, overlapping gonads (testis dorsal to the germarium), nonarticulated male copulatory organ (MCO) and accessory piece, a coiled (counterclockwise) MCO, a dextral vaginal aperture, a haptor armed with 2 pairs of anchors (each with broad base and subequal roots, which are marginally folded), and dorsal and ventral bars and 14 hooks with protruding blunt thumbs and 2 different shapes (slender vs. slightly expanded shanks). Illustrations and data on morphological and biometric variability of individual species from different hosts are provided. The present data provide evidence of a relatively wide host specificity of gill monogenoideans parasitic in South American cichlids.

Monogeneans on native and introduced freshwater fishes from Cuba with the description of a new species of Salsuginus Beverley-Burton, 1984 from Limia vittata (Poeciliidae)

During a parasitological survey carried out between March and September 2003 in Cuba, the following monogeneans were found on the gills of freshwater fishes: Salsuginus cubensis n. sp. on the Cuban molly Limia vittata Guichenot (Poeciliidae); Cichlidogyrus sclerosus Paperna & Thurston, 1969 and C. tilapiae Paperna, 1960 on the African cichlid Tilapia rendalli Boulenger (Cichlidae); Haplocleidus dispar Mueller, 1936 and Pterocleidus acer Mueller, 1936 (all Dactylogyridae) on the sunfish Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque (Centrarchidae) (new geographical records); and Gyrodactylus sp. (Gyrodactylidae) on the biajaca Nandopsis tetracanthus Valenciennes (Cichlidae) (new host and geographical record). Salsuginus cubensis differs from all other species of the genus in the size and morphology of the copulatory complex. The occurrence of C. sclerosus, C. tilapiae, H. dispar and P. acer in their respective hosts is due to the introduction of these hosts to Cuba. A review of the species composition of the Monogenea in native and introduced freshwater fish from Cuba is presented and the zoogeographical distribution of the species found is briefly discussed.

New Dactylogyrids (Monogenea) Parasitizing the Gills of Catfishes (Siluriformes) from the Amazon River Basin in Peru

Abstract Three dactylogyrid (Monogenea) species are described from the gills of siluriform fishes from the rivers around Iquitos, tributaries of the Amazon River in Peru: Demidospermus centromochli n. sp. from Centromochlus heckelii (de Filippi) (Auchenipteridae) and Demidospermus macropteri n. sp. and Ameloblastella unapi n. sp. from Calophysus macropterus (Lichtenstein) (Pimelodidae). The new species of Demidospermus differ from their congeners in having 2 different hook shapes. Ameloblastella unapi n. sp. differs from the other 3 species of the genus in having anchors with an elongate, straight shaft and a short point that forms a 90° angle, a coiled (counterclockwise) male copulatory organ with 13–14 rings, and a coiled vaginal tube. Based on the present study, Pseudovancleaveus França, Issac, Pavanelli, and Takemoto, 2003, is regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Ameloblastella Kritsky, Mendoza-Franco, and Scholz, 2000. The finding of Demidospermus and Ameloblastella spp. on these siluriforms extends our host and geographic knowledge of species of these monogenean genera to Peru.

First record of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in Honduras, Central America

This paper provides the first report of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934, in Honduras. The cestode was found in Profundulus portillorum (Cyprinodontiformes: Profundulidae), which represents a new host record, and which is a member of a genus faced with a variety of conservation challenges, now potentially complicated by the presence of this pathogenic cestode. Nearly complete sequence data from the ITS-1 5.8S and ITS-2 regions corroborate the determination based on morphological characteristics. Several species of carp were introduced to Honduras for aquaculture purposes in the early 1980s and the presence of the Asian fish tapeworm in Honduras may be related to these introductions. In addition, this report documents the currently known geographical distribution of this parasite in Central America, first recorded from Panamá and now from Honduras.