Tetrancistrum lutiani Tubangui, 1931

Kritsky, Delane C., Galli, Paolo & Tingbao, Yang, 2007, Dactylogyrids (Monogenoidea) parasitizing the gills of spinefoots (Teleostei, Siganidae): revision of Tetrancistrum Goto and Kikuchi, 1917, with descriptions of two new species from Siganus spp. of the Red Sea and Celebes, Journal of Natural History 41 (25 - 28), pp. 1513-1551 : 1544

Tetrancistrum lutiani Tubangui, 1931

Type host and locality. Lutjanus monostigma : aquarium at the Bureau of Science , Manila, Philippines .

Site of infestation. Gills.

Preυious record. No other records except for the original description by Tubangui (1931).

Remarks. Specimens of T. lutiani were not available for study, and the type specimens have apparently been destroyed ( Hayward 1996). Tubangui (1931) described this species from specimens collected from Lutjanus lioglossus (now L. monostigma ) held in an aquarium containing other marine fishes, including Siganus υirgata (Valenciennes) ( Siganidae ) and Anyperodon leucogrammicus (Valenciennes) (Serranidae) , at the Bureau of Science in Manila ( Philippines). While the original description, particularly the illustrations, lack adequate detail for diagnosis, the species is definitely a member of Tetrancistrum as defined herein. The copulatory complex resembles that of T. fusiforme in that both species possess a relatively thick-walled, expanded, Cshaped MCO. However, they are differentiated by the superficial root of the ventral anchor being longer than the dorsal root and the absence of an accessory piece in the copulatory complex of T. lutiani (roots subequal in length and accessory piece present in T. fusiforme ).

Although Tubangui’s (1931) report of a species of Tetrancistrum on a lutjanid host is not unique (see Gupta and Sharma 1982), L. monostigma may not be the natural host for this species but rather an incidental infestation resulting from association of L. monostigma with siganids present in the aquarium from which the parasite was collected. Examination of L. monostigma for gill parasites from the Philippines will be necessary to verify the natural host for this parasite.