Acanthoplacatus puelli, Ernst & Jones & Whittington, 2001

Ernst, Ingo, Jones, Malcolm K. & Whittington, Ian D., 2001, A new genus of viviparous gyrodactylid (Monogenea) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia with descriptions of seven new species, Journal of Natural History 35 (3), pp. 313-340 : 329-331

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/002229301300009568
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4757232
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E66075-FFE4-FFDC-A0D3-3403FD156330
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Acanthoplacatus puelli
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Acanthoplacatus puelli View in CoL sp. nov.

( Figures 3 View FIG , 8A View FIG ±D)

Type host. Siganus puellus (Schlegel, 1852) (Siganidae) .

Type locality. Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.

Site on host. This species was found most frequently on the dorsal and pectoral ®ns (table 1).

Holotype. QM G215985 .

Paratypes. QM G215986 ±7.

Etymology. Named after the type host Siganus puellus .

Infection details. Prevalence 83%, six ®sh examined, LCF 204 mm (168± 251 mm); mean intensity 118 (10±468), ®ve ®sh examined, LCF 211 mm (180± 251 mm).

Description. Sclerite measurements taken from 14 worms mounted in Malmberg’s ®xative. Measurements of other organs taken from nine worms stained with Ehrlich’s haematoxylin. Numerous live worms examined for structure of soft body parts and excretory system. Total length 262 (246±293, n 5 6), maximum width 59.5 (54±64, n 5 8) at level of uterus when embryo contained within or testis for worms with small embryo (®gure 8A). Hamulus length 39 (37.5±40.5, n 5 13); hamulus point length 17.5 (15±20, n 5 13); hamulus root length 20 (17±22.5, n 5 13); hamulus shaft length 28.5 (26.5±29, n 5 13). Hamulus shafts with distinct longitudinal depression anteroventrally. Dorsal root tissue cap length 8 (7±9.5, n 5 13), width 3.5 (3±4, n 5 13). Ventral bar simple, variable in shape (®gures 3, 8D). Ventral bar 5 (5±6, n 5 12) long and 14 (13±16, n 5 12) wide. Length of ventral bar membrane 15.5 (15±20, n 5 12). Total length of ventral bar and membrane 22.5 (20±25, n 5 12). Transition between ventral bar and ventral bar membrane not distinct. Marginal hooks small with hook point extending slightly past toe; total length of marginal hook 27.5 (27±29, n 5 12); length of sickle 3.5 (3±4, n 5 11); length of handle 24.5 (23.5±26, n 5 11) (®gure 8B).

Gland cells, posterolateral to pharynx range from minimum diameter of 9.5 (7±12, n 5 7) to maximum diameter of 12.5 (11±15, n 5 7). Anterior lobe of pharynx 27 (24±30, n 5 9) wide, posterior lobe 30.5 (27±34, n 5 9) wide. Gut caeca extend posteriorly lateral to uterus, terminating posterior to testis. Male copulatory organ with one large, two moderate and six small spines (11 21 6) (®gure 8C). Male copulatory organ 13 (11±14, n 5 4) long, 13 (12±14, n 5 4) wide. Developing sclerites of F2 embryos may be visible within large F1 embryos; no sclerites of F3 embryos visible. Oocyte 14 (8±23, n 5 8) long, 20.5 (14±34, n 5 8) wide, contained within ECFR. Testis 11 (3±18, n 5 8) long; 15 (6±23, n 5 8) wide. Five cells surround posterior portion of each gut caecum and single cell lies medially near posterior terminations; cells range from minimum diameter of 12.5 (11±14, n 5 9) to maximum diameter of 16.5 (15±19, n 5 9). Two anterior-most cell pairs and posterolateral cell pair ventral to gut; remaining two cell pairs and single medial cell dorsal to gut (®gure 8A) .

Comments. The size and shape of the haptoral sclerites in Acanthoplacatus puelli sp. nov. is similar to A adlardi sp. nov and A. shieldsi sp. nov. Acanthoplacatus puelli sp. nov. diOEers from A. adlardi sp. nov. as described above for that species. Acanthoplacatu s puelli sp. nov. has smaller marginal hook length and marginal hook handle length than A. shieldsi sp. nov. although 0.5 m m overlap occurs for both characters. Acanthoplacatus puelli sp. nov. diOEers from all other species by having a male copulatory organ with a 11 21 6 con®guration.