Astiotrema cyclemysi Siddiqi, 1965

Karar, Yasser F. M., Blend, Charles K., Dronen, Norman O. & Adel, Asmaa, 2021, Towards resolving the problematic status of the digenean genus Astiotrema Looss 1900: An updated concept and revision of species composition for Astiotrema (sensu stricto), Zootaxa 4991 (1), pp. 36-72 : 55-57

Astiotrema cyclemysi Siddiqi, 1965

( Figs. 21 & 22 )

(Syn.: Astiotrema lissemydis Agrawal, 1966 n. syn.)

Records (see Table 1 ): 1. Siddiqi (1965); 2. Agrawal (1966a).

Remarks: Siddiqi (1965) described A. cyclemysi for specimens gathered from the small intestine of the Asian leaf turtle, Cyclemys dentata (Gray) ( Testudines : Geoemydidae ), from Aligarh, India. Astiotrema emydis is most similar to A. cyclemysi except in the former having a maximum width at the level of the ventral sucker, possessing a larger cirrus-pouch and seminal receptacle, a submedian genital pore, oblique testes, a larger vitelline field extending from near the intestinal bifurcation and confluent medially anterior to the ventral sucker and A. emydis has much larger eggs ( Ejsmont 1930; Siddiqi 1965). Agrawal (1966a) described A. lissemydis from the Indian flap-shelled turtle, Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterre) ( Testudines : Trionychidae ), in Lucknow, India, and distinguished it from A. emydis by the anterior extent of the vitelline fields (begins further posterior to the cecal bifurcation), ceca that extend to the posterior extremity and by having an ovary that is smaller than the testes. Astiotrema lissemydis closely resembles A. cyclemysi except that the former has vitelline follicles confluent medially in the posttesticular space, a much greater density of uterine coils, a pre-equatorial ovary and the presence of numerous glands at the base of the pharynx ( Agrawal 1966a). The confluent nature of the vitelline follicles and the density of the uterine coils can both be influenced by worm maturity. Siddiqi (1965) pointed out that A. cyclemysi has an equatorial ovary in the middle third of the body but mostly situated in the anterior half of this middle third (see Siddiqi 1965, figs. 1 & 2). Astiotrema lissemydis has an ovary located in a similar position to that stated for A. cyclemysi . Given that A. cyclemysi and A. lissemydis are similar in almost all morphology (including what we believe to be slight intra-specific variation) as well as in host group ( Testudines ) and locality ( India), A. lissemydis is herein synonymized with A. cyclemysi .

We consider the following morphological features as diagnostic of A. cyclemysi : (i) oral sucker larger than ventral one, (ii) ventral sucker well-separated from the intestinal bifurcation, (iii) vitelline fields long, extend from midway between ventral sucker and intestinal bifurcation to terminate immediately posterior to level of posterior testis, (iv) ceca long, terminate near posterior extremity, (v) ovary closer to ventral sucker than anterior testis, (vi) esophagus indistinct, (vii) cirrus-pouch dorsal to ventral sucker and (viii) genital pore anterior to ventral sucker by a moderate distance, almost midway between intestinal bifurcation and the ventral sucker.

Figures

FIGURES 21 & 22. Astiotrema cyclemysi Siddiqi, 1965. 21. A. cyclemysi, ventral view, redrawn from Siddiqi (1965, fig. 1). 22. A. cyclemysi (Syn. Astiotrema lissemydis Agrawal, 1966), ventral view, redrawn from Agrawal (1966a, fig. 11). Abbreviations: AT, anterior testis; Ce, cecum; CP, cirrus-pouch; EP, excretory pore; EV, excretory vesicle; GP, genital pore; OD, ovarian duct; OS, oral sucker; Ov, ovary; Ph, pharynx; PP, pars prostatica; PT, posterior testis; SR, seminal receptacle; SV, seminal vesicle; Ut, uterus; VD, vitelline duct; VF, vitelline follicle; VS, ventral sucker. Scale bars: Fig. 21 = 500 µm; Fig. 22 = 500 µm.