Astiotrema fotedari Dhar, 1977

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 : 57

Astiotrema fotedari Dhar, 1977

( Figs. 23–25 )

(Syns.: Astiotrema fusiformis [ Wang, 1981] n. comb.; Gauhatiana fusiformis Wang, 1981 n. syn.)

Records (see Table 1 ): 1. Dhar (1977); 2. Wang (1981).

Remarks: Dhar (1977) described A. fotedari for specimens obtained from the large intestine of the kalabans, Bangana dero (Hamilton) (Syn. Labeo dero [Hamilton]) ( Cypriniformes : Cyprinidae ), from Poonch in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (currently divided between India and Pakistan). Astiotrema reniferum represents the most closely related species morphologically to A. fotedari except that the former has a more restricted distribution of the vitellarium (from the level of the ventral sucker to the posterior limit of the posterior testis) and a longer esophagus while A. fotedari parasitizes a different host group ( Cyprinidae ) (see Dhar 1977). Wang (1981) described G. fusiformis from the intestine of the yellowfin, Xenocypris macrolepis Bleeker (Syn. Xenocypris argentea Günther ) ( Cypriniformes : Cyprinidae ), from Fujian Province, China. We found the morphological characters of G. fusiformis to be identical to those of species of Astiotrema , while G. fusiformis differs from species of Gauhatiana particularly in lacking vitellarium in two clusters within the lateral fields and an equatorial ovary (see Gupta 1953; Wang 1981; Font & Lotz 2008); thereby, we reassign it within Astiotrema as A. fusiformis n. comb. Within a comparison with representative species of Astiotrema , we recognized that A. fusiformis has the same overall morphology and host group ( Cyprinidae ) as A. fotedari , though we note the slightly longer posterior extent of the cirrus-pouch relative to the posterior margin of the ovary in A. fusiformis . Consequently, A. fusiformis is herein considered a synonym of A. fotedari .

Astiotrema fotedari has the following uniquely-combined features: (i) oral sucker larger than ventral one, (ii) vitelline fields long, extending anteriorly either to the level of the intestinal bifurcation or to pharyngeal level and posteriorly either to the blind ends of the ceca or slightly further posterior, (iii) ceca long, terminating a little anterior to the posterior extremity, and (iv) ovary closer to the ventral sucker than it is to anterior testis.

Figures

FIGURES 23–25. Intra-specific variations observed in Astiotrema fotedari Dhar, 1977. 23. A. fotedari, ventral view, redrawn from Dhar (1977, fig. 1). 24. A. fotedari, ventral view, redrawn from Dhar (1977, fig. 2). 25. A. fotedari (Syn. Gauhatiana fusiformis Wang, 1981), dorsal view, redrawn from Wang (1981, fig. 7). Abbreviations: AT, anterior testis; Ce, cecum; CP, cirrus-pouch; Eg, eggs; Es, esophagus; GP, genital pore; OS, oral sucker; Ov, ovary; Ph, pharynx; PP, pars prostatica; PT, posterior testis; SV, seminal vesicle; Ut, uterus; VF, vitelline follicle; VS, ventral sucker. Scale bars: Fig. 23 = 500 µm; Fig. 24 = 500 µm; Fig. 25 = 500 µm.