Sylvie Pichelin

Endoparasite species richness of New Caledonian butterfly fishes: host density and diet matter.

Ecological factors may influence the number of parasites encountered and, thus, parasite species richness. These factors include diet, gregarity, conspecific and total host density, habitat, body size, vagility, and migration. One means of examining the influence of these factors on parasite species richness is through a comparative analysis of the parasites of different, but related, host species. In contrast to most comparative studies of parasite species richness of fish, which have been conducted by using data from the literature, the present study uses data obtained by the investigators. Coral reef fishes vary widely in the above ecological factors and are frequently parasitized by a diverse array of parasites. We, therefore, chose to investigate how the above ecological factors influence parasite species richness in coral reef fishes. We investigated the endoparasite species richness of 21 species of butterfly fishes (Chaetodontidae) of New Caledonia. We mapped the diet characters on the existing butterfly fish phylogeny and found that omnivory appears to be ancestral. We also mapped the estimated endoparasite species richness, coded from low to high parasite species richness, on the existing butterfly fish phylogeny and found that low parasite species richness appears to be associated with the ancestral state of omnivory. Different dietary and social strategies appear to have evolved more than once, with the exception of obligate coralivory, which appears to have evolved only once. Finally, after controlling for phylogenetic relationships, we found that only the percentage of plankton in the diet and conspecific host density were positively correlated with endoparasite species richness.

Concinnocotyla (Monogenea: Polystomatidae), a new genus for the polystome from the Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri

Pseudopolystoma australensis is redescribed from new material from the Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri (Dipnoi) from a natural population in Queensland, Australia. It is transferred to a new genus, Concinnocotyla, as Concinnocotyla australensis n. comb. in a new subfamily, the Concinnocotylinae. The genus Concinnocotyla differs from all other polystome genera in each of the following characters: haptoral suckers bilaterally symmetrical rather than radially symmetrical, with elaborate skeleton of sclerites rather than no sclerites; hamuli, a single pair between marginal hooklets I and II rather than between II and III; a pocket posteriorly on each caecum that opens dorsally; sperm-filled sac between pockets; testes numerous, discrete, cylindrical; seminal vesicle large, discrete, muscular; penis elongate, muscular, unarmed, extensile; penis-bulb large, muscular, with intrinsic glands; host, a dipnoan. A detailed description of the adult parasite is presented and its unique features are discussed. The absence of a true oral sucker is noted. Confirmation of a polystome from a natural population of Australian lungfish has interesting evolutionary implications.

Morphological and biological notes on Polymorphus (Profilicollis) sphaerocephalus and Corynosoma stanleyi (Polymorphidae: Acanthocephala).

Polymorphus (Profilicollis) sphaerocephalus (Bremser in Rudolphi, 1819) Van Cleave, 1947 (Polymorphidae) cystacanths were recovered from 5 species of grapsid crabs (Paragrapsus gaimardii (Milne Edwards, 1837), Paragrapsus laevis (Dana, 1852), Paragrapsus quadridentatus (Milne Edwards, 1837), Brachynotus spinosus (Milne Edwards, 1853), and Cyclograpsus granulosus (Milne Edwards, 1853)) and 1 species of portunid crab (Nectocarcinus integrifrons (Linnaeus, 1766)) from intertidal zones in southern temperate waters of Australia. Cystacanths of Corynosoma stanleyi Smales, 1986 (Polymorphidae) were also recovered from P. gaimardii, P. quadridentatus, and C. granulosus. Polymorphus (P.) sphaerocephalus was the most prevalent (100%) in C. granulosus at Flinders I. and C. stanleyi was most prevalent (59.1%) in C. granulosus at Dunally Channel, Tasmania.

Glossocercus chelodinae (MacCallum, 1921) n. comb. (Cestoda : Dilepididae) from freshwater turtles in Australia and a redefinition of the genus Bancroftiella Johnston, 1911

Glossocercus chelodinae (MacCallum, 1921) n. comb. is redescribed from fresh material recovered from the intestine of an Australian freshwater turtle, Chelodina expansa. G. chelodinae can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the shape of its rostellar hooks. It is suggested that this species has colonised fish-eating turtles from fish-eating birds. The morphological relationships among Parvitaenia, Bancroftiella and Glossocercus are discussed. The diagnosis of Bancroftiella is amended and marsupials are eliminated as hosts. Bancroftiella sudarikovi Spasskii &; Yurpalova, 1970 becomes a synonym of Glossocercus glandularis (Fuhrmann, 1905); only B. tenuis Johnston, 1911, the type-species, and B. ardeae Johnston, 1911 remain in the genus.

Attachment of eggs by Concinnocotyla australensis (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) to the tooth plates of the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri (Dipnoi)☆

Eggs of the polystome monogenean, Concinnocotyla australensis, were found attached to the crushing surface and sides of the tooth plates of the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, from the Brisbane River and Enoggera Creek in south-east Queensland, Australia. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the crushing surface of the tooth plates of infected hosts can bear an extensive, carpet-like cover comprising enormous numbers of eggs. The eggs are attached firmly by eggshell material at the distal tip of the abopercular appendage. Our studies suggest that the eggs are laid singly soon after manufacture, embryonate while attached to the tooth plates, and hatch in situ to release an unciliated oncomiracidium. Attachment of eggs to the host by C. australensis, a rare strategy among monogeneans, achieves some of the advantages, and avoids some of the disadvantages, of ovoviviparity and full egg-embryonation before laying. Emergence of unciliated oncomiracidia permits auto-infection. However, a transfer of larvae or adults from host to host might occur, possibly during spawning, when male and female lungfish intertwine. Attachment of eggs to the tooth plates may reflect the suitability of their hard, non-secretory surface.

PARAPOLYSTOMA JOHNSTONI N. SP. FROM LITORIA NYAKALENSIS (AMPHIBIA) IN AUSTRALIA AND TAXONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS ON THE DIPLORCHIINAE (MONOGENEA)

Parapolystoma johnstoni n. sp. is described from Litoria nyakalensis from northern Queensland. Parapolystoma bulliense is recorded from a new host, Litoria pearsoniana. The pattern of the ciliated cell on the oncomiracidium of P. bulliense is described. The subfamily diagnosis of the Diplorchiinae is amended to include the species of Diplorchis, Neodiplorchis, Parapolystoma, and Pseudodiplorchis.

Uterotrema australispinosa n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Spirorchidae), a parasite of a freshwater turtle Emydura macquarii from Southern Queensland, Australia

Uterotrema australispinosa n. gen., n. sp. from the heart of the Murray River turtle Emydura macquarii (Pleurodira: Chelidae) is distinguished from other members of the Spirorchidae by the presence of a voluminous uterus; a single, lobed testis occupying the posterior quarter of the body; linear rows of 5-6 spines arranged along the lateral margins of the hindbody from the posterior rim of the acetabulum to the posterior end of the body; and the posterior end ventrally curved with a dorsal cluster of spines near the terminal end. This is the first report of a spirorchid from a member of the family Chelidae and from Australia.

Pholeohedra overstreeti n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) from Girella zebra (Kyphosidae) in South Australia

Pholeohedra overstreeti n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) is described from Girella zebra (Kyphosidae) in South Australia. The new genus is compared with all genera of Haploporidae sensu lato (including Atractotrematidae, Megasolenidae and Waretrematidae) and has a unique bell-shaped concavity at its posterior end. The genus otherwise resembles Hapladena in the arrangement of the testis, vitellarium and gut but also resembles Megasolena, Metamegasolena and Vitellibaculum except in having a single testis. This is the first haploporid reported from kyphosid fishes in Australia.

A review of the genus Sclerocollum Schmidt & Paperna, 1978 (Acanthocephala: Cavisomidae) from rabbitfishes (Siganidae) in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Seven of the eleven species of Siganus Richardson (Siganidae) collected off the coasts of Australia, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Palau were infected with species of Sclerocollum Schmidt & Paperna, 1978 (Acanthocephala: Cavisomidae). A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a Discriminant Analysis were performed on a morphometric dataset of specimens of Sclerocollum including borrowed type-specimens of Sc. rubrimaris Schmidt & Paperna, 1978 from the Indian Ocean and of Sc. robustum Edmonds, 1964, the only acanthocephalan species known previously from an Australian siganid. These analyses showed that the lengths of proboscis hooks were useful variables for separating specimens into groups and supported the presence of two known species (Sc. robustum and Sc. rubrimaris) and one new species (Sc. australis n. sp.) in Australian waters. We found Sc. robustum in Siganus lineatus (Valenciennes) from off Queensland and Sc. rubrimaris in S. fuscescens (Houttuyn) from off Western Australia and Queensland, S. punctatissimus Fowler & Bean from off Queensland and S. argenteus (Quoy & Gaimard), S. corallinus (Valenciennes), S. canaliculatus (Park) and S. doliatus Guérin-Méneville from off New Caledonia (all new host and locality records) which we compared with museum specimens of Sc. rubrimaris from S. rivulatus Forsskål & Niebuhr and S. argenteus [as S. rostratus (Valenciennes)] from the Red Sea. The third species, Sclerocollum australis n. sp., was found only in S. corallinus and S. doliatus from off Queensland. Sclerocollum australis n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeners by a unique combination of characters of the proboscis armature, including lengths of hooks 1–7. Specimens of Sclerocollum were also found in Zebrasoma velifer (Bloch) (Acanthuridae) from off Queensland, and Coradion altivelis McCulloch (Chaetodontidae) and Heniochus acuminatus (Linnaeus) (Chaetodontidae) from off New Caledonia. No acanthocephalans were found in siganids collected from Palau (Micronesia) or Moorea (French Polynesia) or Moreton Bay and Noosa (Queensland, Australia). We found no acanthocephalans in S. puellus (Schlegel), S. punctatus (Schneider & Forster), S. spinus (Linnaeus) or S. vulpinus (Schlegel & Müller). Evidence suggests that species of the genus Sclerocollum have travelled with S. argenteus across the Indo-Pacific with Sc. rubrimaris dispersed widely and Sc. robustum and Sc. australis n. sp. restricted to the Queensland coast, Australia.