Monogeneans of the grouper Epinephelus tauvina (Perciformes, Serranidae) off Moorea, French Polynesia, with a description of Pseudorhabdosynochus pai n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae)

Abstract

Specimens of the greasy grouper Epinephelus tauvina (Forsskål), caught off Moorea, French Polynesia, harboured four species of gill monogeneans. The diplectanid Pseudorhabdosynochus pai n. sp. is characterised by an extremely big male quadriloculate organ (inner length 77 mum, cone length 15, tube length 47), the largest of all members of the genus, and a sclerotised vagina with a very complex structure, including three secondary chambers instead of one as in most species. Pseudorhabdosynochus sp. is a species of the 'cupatus group'; this species is not formally described but various measurements are provided. The ancyrocephalid Haliotrema sp. and the capsalid Benedenia sp. were rare; they are both mentioned but not described. The diplectanid fauna of E. tauvina corresponds to the pattern already found in a clade of grouper species, the members of which often harbour both a species of the 'cupatus group' and another species of Pseudorhabdosynochus Yamaguti, 1958.

A new species of diplectanid (Monogenoidea) fromParanthias colonus(Perciformes, Serranidae) off Peru

“…After this date, 25 more species were described. The species of Pseudorhabdosynochus mostly parasitize fish belonging to Epinephelus and have been described from different regions of the world [ 1 , 2 , 6 – 12 , 17 , 19 – 23 ].…”

Pseudorhabdosynochus regiusn. sp. (Monogenea, Diplectanidae) from the mottled grouperMycteroperca rubra(Teleostei) in the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic

“…Another hypothesis is that the three species of Mycteroperca with similar species of Pseudorhabdosynochus are all from the Mediterranean Sea (and Eastern Atlantic), suggesting that the close relationships of these parasite species reflect a common geographical origin, with the differentiation of various monogenean species in the groupers from the same area. However, a similar vaginal structure is found in P. pai , a parasite of Epinephelus tauvina in the Pacific [ 24 ] (i.e. neither a species of Mycteroperca nor Mediterranean), thus negating the two hypotheses mentioned above.…”

“…The general structure is similar, but the primary canal is shorter in P. regius and the shape of the secondary chamber is different and complex (i.e. several secondary chambers) [ 24 ]. In addition, P. pai has a huge quadriloculate organ (72–144 inner length) and larger squamodiscs with numerous rows of rodlets (13–14).…”

Resolution of the discrepant host-specificity of Pseudorhabdosynochus species (Monogenea, Diplectanidae) from serranid fishes in the tropical Indo-Pacific

“…They found that several species of the cupatus group were found in several Epinephelus spp., and that these fish species were related. Recent descriptions of new species confirm that a monophyletic group of groupers (Craig and Hastings 2007) harbours a series of Pseudorhabdosynochus of the cupatus group, and also other species (Justine 2008, Justine andVignon 2009).…”