Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) sp. 1

Figure 12

Host: Shadow trevally Carangoides dinema Bleeker ( Carangidae, Perciformes).

Site of infection: Intestine.

Locality: Fishmarket, Nouméa, New Caledonia (collected 13 March 2009).

Prevalence, intensity and details about fish: 1 fish infected/9 fish examined; 1 nematode. The infected fish (Fish number: JNC 2882) was 297 mm in fork length and 577 g in weight.

Deposition of voucher specimen: Muséum National d’ Histoire Naturelle, Paris (MNHN JNC 2882).

Description

Male (one specimen): Length of body 7.56 mm, maximum width 163. Buccal capsule including basal ring 72 long, its width 60; basal ring 6 long and 39 wide. Maximum width/ length ratio of buccal capsule 1:1.20. Spiral ridges 13, 5 of which incomplete (Fig. 12C). Length of muscular oesophagus 381, maximum width 60; length of glandular oesophagus 449, maximum width 81 (Figs. 12A and 12B); length ratio of muscular and glandular oesophagus 1:1.18. Length of entire oesophagus and buccal capsule representing 12% of body length. Nerve ring 231 from anterior extremity. Deirids situated somewhat asymmetrically at 165/195 from anterior extremity, slightly posterior to mid-point between base of buccal capsule and nerve ring (Fig. 12B). Excretory pore not located. Posterior end of body ventrally bent, provided with wide, vesiculated caudal alae supported by pedunculate papillae and posteriorly reaching to end of tail. Preanal papillae: three pairs of subventral pedunculate papillae; postanal papillae: six pairs of pedunculate papillae, four subventral and two lateral (last pair representing phasmids); additional two pairs of small, transversely-elongate sessile ventral papillae surrounding cloacal opening (Figs. 12D and 12E). Spicules unequal, with sharply pointed distal ends; right spicule 258 long; small (left) spicule less sclerotized, 198 long (Fig. 12D). Length ratio of spicules 1:1.30. Tail 114 long, with two (dorsal and ventral) small terminal cuticular spines three long (Fig. 12E).

Remarks

Only a single male specimen of this nematode was available to study. Because some taxonomically important morphological features are found in females in this group of nematodes (e.g., the shape of the female tail), species identification was not possible. No species of Procamallanus has so far been reported from a carangid fish.