Metapolystoma ansuanum, Landman & Verneau & Raharivololoniaina & Preez, 2021

Landman, Willem, Verneau, Olivier, Raharivololoniaina, Liliane & Preez, Louis du, 2021, First record of Metapolystoma (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from Boophis tree frogs in Madagascar, with the description of five new species, International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 14, pp. 161-178 : 169-170

3.1.3. Metapolystoma ansuanum n. sp. ( Fig. 8‒9 ; Table 2 )

3.1.3.1. Type host. Boophis luteus ( Mantellidae ).

3.1.3.2. Type locality. Cascade des Nymphes , Isalo National Park, Madagascar ( Fig. 1 ), (22.46977S; 45.260701E) .

3.1.3.3. Site in host. Urinary bladder.

3.1.3.4. Level of infection. One of nine frogs collected were infected with two mature parasites (prevalence 11.1%).

3.1.3.5. Type material. The morphological descriptions are based on two mature parasites (Holotype NMBP 569 ; Paratype NMBP 570 ) collected from the same locality in Cascade des Nymphes. The type material was deposited in the parasitic worm collection, National Museum , Aliwal Street, Bloemfontein 9301 .

3.1.3.6. Zoobank registration. The Life Science Identifier ( LSID) of the article is: 59F6A99A-C667-48 EB-9EA4-881D43956065. The LSID of the

169

3.1.3.8. Description. Measurements reflected in Table 2 . Body pyriform ( Fig. 8 ), dorsoventrally flat, ventrally concave, widest section at position 16–65% from anterior end of body. Body length 2.6–2.8 times greater than width. Mouth sub-ventral, surrounded by false oral sucker. Posterior haptor measures 24% of total length, bearing three pairs of haptoral suckers of equal size. Well-developed hamuli positioned between posterior-most haptoral suckers with deep cut between handle and guard, hook length Z long relative to Length X ( Fig. 9a ). Marginal hooklets placed as for other polystomes: pairs one and two between hamuli, pairs three to five embedded in haptoral suckers, pairs six to eight positioned between anterior-most haptoral suckers ( Fig. 9b ). Medial pharynx length greater than width, positioned immediately posterior to or at margin of false oral sucker. Intestine bifurcates immediately posterior to pharynx at 15–18% from anterior, converging posteriorly at 79–81% from anterior; no prehaptoral anastomoses. Lateral intestinal diverticula length equal to width in anterior half, length greater than width in posterior half. Medial diverticula only posterior to ovary.

Testis follicular, large, kidney-shaped, positioned posterior to ovary, ventral to intestine. Vas deferens widens anteriorly to form sinuous semen vesicle 17–31 (26 ±4; 1) wide, 422 long, measuring 11% of body length, narrowing towards genital bulb, opening in common genital opening. Genital pore opening mid-ventral, posterior to intestinal ceca bifurcation at position 16–18% from anterior, genital bulb muscular, surrounded by glandular cells, armed with genital crown bearing 10 genital spines ( Fig. 9c ).

Ovary, elongate, not lobed, positioned posterior to midbody, length 2.3–2.7 times greater than width, measuring 9–10% of body length. Oviduct 345 long, 19–39 (28 ±6; 1) wide. Uterus large, occupying one-third of body proper, tubiform, convolute. Uterus contains 41 ovoid, operculate eggs, some contain fully developed oncomiracidia. Intrauterine oncomiracidia present. Mehlis’ gland distinct. Two parallel vaginae, each 94–132 long (119 ±18; 4), 66–81 (75 ±8; 4) wide, found on lateral margins, bearing multiple marginal openings; vaginal vestibule cup-shaped at 21–26% from anterior. Vitellaria dorsal to intestinal tract, extending throughout most of body, except area occupied by female reproductive organs. Genito-intestinal canal prominent, 264 long, 30–40 (37 ± 4; 1) wide, situated directly posterior to ovary.

Figures

Fig. 8. Ventral view of Metapolystoma ansuanum n. sp. holotype. Abbreviations: eg, egg; gb, genital bulb; gc, genito–intestinal canal; ha, hamuli; hp, haptor; ic, intestinal caecum; mg, Mehlis gland; mo, mouth; oc, oncomiracidium; od, oviduct; oi, oo¨–vitelline canal; o¨o, o¨otype; os, false oral sucker; ov, ovarium; ph, pharynx; su, sucker; sv, semen vesicle; te, testis; ut, uterus; va, vagina; vd, vas deferens; vi, vitelline; vv, vitello–vaginal canal.

Fig. 9. Metapolystoma ansuanum n. sp. from Boophis luteus. a, hamulus from holotype; b, marginal hooklets 2–7; c, genital crown from holotype.

Fig. 1. Map of Madagascar showing parasite type localities and distribution areas of hosts.