A new species of Microcotyle (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) from Scorpaena notata (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

We collected specimens of Microcotyle spp. from two species of scorpaeniform fishes off Algeria, namely Scorpaena notata and Helicolenus dactylopterus. The identification of both fishes was confirmed by molecular barcoding of the COI gene. Sequences of COI gene were also obtained for both parasite species. The species from S. notata is described as Microcotyle algeriensis n. sp., on the basis of morphological differences from other species (number of clamps, number of spines in genital atrium, number of testes). Its COI sequence differs from M. sebastis Goto, 1894 (from Sebastes schlegeli from a fish farm in South Korea) by 14.6%. The species from H. dactylopterus is distinct from M. algeriensis on the basis of morphology (number of clamps, number of spines in genital atrium) and COI sequence (4.5% divergence) and is also distinct from M. sebastis in its COI sequence (12.3%). We refrained from describing it as new because M. sebastis, a species originally described from scorpaeniform fishes off Japan, has been recorded in various hosts in the North and South Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean (for the latter, in the same host, H. dactylopterus). We believe that correct specific assignment of species of Microcotyle from scorpaeniform fishes needs a detailed morphological and molecular study of representatives from various locations and hosts.

Microcotyle visa n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae), a gill parasite of Pagrus caeruleostictus (Valenciennes) (Teleostei: Sparidae) off the Algerian coast, Western Mediterranean

“…Recent studies have shown that the biodiversity of monogeneans of marine fish in the southern part of the Mediterranean is far from being completely known (Chaabane et al, 2015(Chaabane et al, , 2016a(Chaabane et al, , b, 2017Chaari et al, 2016;Kheddam et al, 2016;Boudaya & Neifar, 2016;Ayadi et al, 2017). In the course of a parasitological study of monogeneans of sparid fishes off the Algerian coast, we collected representatives of an undescribed species of Microcotyle on the gills of Pagrus caeruleostictus.…”

“…During the 21st century, new genera (Omanicotyle Yoon, Al-Jufaili, Freeman, Bron, Paladini & Shinn, 2013, Paranaella Kohn, Baptista-Farias & Cohen, 2000 (see Kohn et al, 2000;Yoon et al, 2013) and species [Microcotyle algeriensis Ayadi, Gey, Justine & Tazerouti, 2017, M. argenticus Hadi & Bilqees, 2011, M. rubrum Hadi & Bilqees, M. jonii Hadi, Bilqees & Khatoon, 2011, M. omanae Machkewskyi, Dmitrieva, Al-Jufaili & Al-Mazrooei, 2013 and Polylabris bengalensis Sailaja & Madhavi, 2011] have been added to this family (Hadi & Bilqees 2010, 2011Sailaja & Madhavi, 2011;Machkewskyi et al, 2013;Ayadi et al, 2017).…”

“…has in common with Microcotyle sp. ofAyadi et al (2017) the general organisation of the genital atrium but differs in having a greater number of clamps and a greater number of atrial spines and testes (Table 3). The hosts are also different…”

Holocephalocotyle monstrosaen. gen. n. sp. (Monogenea, Monocotylidae) from the olfactory rosette of the rabbit fish,Chimaera monstrosa(Holocephali, Chimaeridae) in deep waters off Algeria

“…Measurements are in micrometers, and indicated as means ± standard deviation (if n > 30), and between parentheses the range and number (n) of structures measured. Because measured lengths may vary depending on how specimens are prepared and the degree to which they are flattened [2,21], they are given separately for specimens mounted respectively in Malmberg's medium (m) or stained in carmine and mounted in Canada balsam (c).…”

“…In the present study, integrative taxonomy based on molecular and morphological analyses was used to provide a formal description of a new species and the proposal of a new genus for its accommodation. This paper belongs to a series of papers dealing with the morphological and molecular description of monogeneans from off the southern Mediterranean coast [2][3][4][5][6][7]22].…”