Mormyrogyrodactylus gemini gen. et sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae), a new gyrodactylid from Marcusenius macrolepidotus (Mormyridae) from South Africa

Abstract

Abstract. Mormyrogyrodactylus gemini gen. et sp. n. (Gyrodactylidea: Gyrodactylidae), a viviparous monogenean is described from the skin and fins of Marcusenius macrolepidotus (Peters) from South Africa. This new genus is unique in having a large cup-shaped cirrus armed with one large needle-like spine and numerous small hair-like spinelets. A peduncular bar is present. The haptor is clearly demarcated from the body and situated on a small pedicle. The haptor has one pair of large anchors, a ventral bar complex, a small dorsal bar and 16 evenly spaced marginal hooks. The ventral bar complex consists of three parts: an inverted U-shaped piece with two semi-attached bars, each bar consisting of a base and an extension. An accessory inverted Tshaped sclerite is present on the posterior rim of the haptor. Mormyrogyrodactylus is the fifth genus of the Gyrodactylidae to be described from Africa.

An overview of the Gyrodactylus (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) species parasitizing African catfishes, and their morphological and molecular diversity

“…As Africa has seen the discovery of more unusual haptoral structures e.g. accessory bars in Mormyrogyrodactylus gemini LuusPowell, Mashego andKhalil, 2003 (Luus-Powell et al 2003); additional haptoral plates in Gyrodactylus thysi Vanhove, Snoeks, Volckaert andHuyse, 2011 (Vanhove et al 2011a), it is expected that this continent hosts a remarkable diversity in haptoral organisation among gyrodactylids.…”

A brief history of freshwater fish parasitology in southern Africa

“…The association with the Zoology Department, which later became the Department of Biodiversity, was very fruitful and resulted in collaborative work with different members of that department, some of whom are referred to below. Luus-Powell et al (2003), in collaboration with Mashego and Khalil, described a new monogenean genus Mormyrogyrodactylus, and Khalil and Polling (1997) compiled a comprehensive checklist of helminth parasites of African freshwater fishes. Khalil also published a paper with Susan Dippenaar, PAS Olivier and NM Mokgalong on a marine copepod (Olivier et al 2000).…”

Description of Afrogyrodactylus ardae sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Rhabdalestes septentrionalis (Characiformes: Alestidae) in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

“…(Paperna, 1968). Thirty-fi ve years later, Mormyrogyrodactylus Luus-Powell, Mashego et Khalil, 2003 was described from Marcusenius macrolepidotus (Peters) (Luus-Powell et al, 2003). Most recently species of the genus Diplogyrodactylus Přikrylová, Matějusová, Musilová, Gelnar et Harris, 2009 were described from P. senegalus and Citharodactylus Přikrylová, Shinn et Paladini, 2017 from Citharinus citharus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire) (Přikrylová et al, 2009(Přikrylová et al, , 2017.…”