Haliotrema heteracantha Zhukov, 1976

Mendoza-Franco, Edgar F., Tun, Mariela del Carmen Rosado, Anchevida, Allan de Jesus Duarte & Rodriguez, Rodolfo E. del Rio, 2018, Morphological and molecular (28 S rRNA) data of monogeneans (Platyhelminthes) infecting the gill lamellae of marine fishes in the Campeche Bank, southwest Gulf of Mexico, ZooKeys 783, pp. 125-161 : 125

Haliotrema heteracantha Zhukov, 1976 Figure 2

Haliotrema heteracantha Zhukov, 1976: 36-37, fig. 3; Kritsky et al. 2009b: 42-43 (transferred to Haliotrematoides ).

Type host.

Lutjanus synagris

Present study.

L. synagris and L. griseus

Locality/prevalence, mean abundance and intensity range on L. synagris .

San Francisco: 40 fish (mean TL 28.2 cm; range 20-35.7) infected of 70 examined (57 %); abundance, 5; intensity of infection, 1-16 worms. Seyba Playa: 51 fish (TL28.4; 19.2-30.5) infected of 79 examined (64.5%); abundance, 17; intensity of infection, 2-13. Champoton: 35 fish (TL 28.2; 24.7-30.5) infected of 75 examined (46.6 %); abundance, 3; intensity of infection, 1-6.

Supplementary observations

(measurements based on six specimens on L. synagris ). Body 418 (330-480; 8) long; greatest width 68. Haptor 80 wide. Pharynx 25 (20- 30; 2) wide. MCO 40 (30-45; 6) long. Ventral anchor 40 (38-42; 9) long; dorsal anchor 50 (47-52; 10) long. Hook 12 (3) long.

Comments.

This species was originally described as Haliotrema heteracantha from L. synagris by Zhukov (1976) who also reported it from other five lutjanids [ L. mahogoni , L. apodus , Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch, 1791), L. analis , and L. griseus ] from Bay of Campeche (Area Havana) ( Zhukov 1976). Subsequently, Kritsky et al. (2009b) transferred this monogenean species to Haliotrematoides by based on original figures of this species made by Zhukov (1976). It has been stated that Hal. heteracantha shows a notable similarity with Hal. guttati in the Pacific coast off Mazatlán, Sinaloa Mexico based on the comparative morphology of the anchors (i.e. dorsal and ventral anchors with spurs on the inner surfaces of the anchor shafts), bars, and copulatory complex (see Kritsky et al. 2009b).

Both monogenean species are currently considered distinct based on the absence of a loop in the shaft of the MCO in H. heteracantha (present in Hal. guttati ). However, examination of present specimens of H. heteracantha showed that morphology of the MCO is variable and a loop is present as well in the shaft of the MCO (see Figure 2). Accordingly, it would suggest that H. guttati is a junior synonym of H. heteracantha . However, the two species have been isolated since formation of the Panamanian Isthmus (~ 3 mya), which theoretically it would support they are distinct species. Sequences of both could probably help in answering the question of conspecificity. Montoya-Mendoza et al. (2016) reported E. heteracantha (voucher CNHE 10218) from L. synagris from Santiaguillo Reef, Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico). Examination of that voucher allowed us to confirm the species identity.

Specimens deposited.

Six reference specimens in the CNHE (10602).