Benedenia sp.

Whittington, I. D., Deveney, M. R. & Wyborn, S. J., 2001, A revision of Benedenia Diesing, 1858 including a redescription of B. sciaenae (van Beneden, 1856) Odhner, 1905 and recognition of Menziesia Gibson, 1976 (Monogenea: Capsalidae), Journal of Natural History 35 (5), pp. 663-777 : 704-706

Synonym. Benedenia sp. of Hoshina (1966).

Material studied. MPM: No. 19391 (holotype and 1 paratype according to the label) (1 slide, 3 individuals) ex ®ns and body surface of Oplegnathus fasciatus (Kroyer) (Oplegnathidae) , 1 February 1982, Nagasaki Prefectural Institute of Fisheries, Japan; KO: (1 slide, 10 individuals) ex body surface of O. fasciatus (Oplegnathidae) , 9 October 1991, Nagasaki Prefectural Institute of Fisheries, Japan.

Observations. This species was well-described by Ogawa (1984a), who should be consulted for details. Ogawa’ s depiction of the holotype (his ®gure 1) is not necessarily representative of the species. In most specimens, the proximal ends of the anterior hamuli overlap the proximal ends of the accessory sclerites (termed`supplementary pieces of the anterior hamuli’ by Ogawa) and the distal ends of the anterior hamuli overlap the posterior hamuli for one-third to one-half of their length (see Ogawa, 1984a, his ®gure 2) and ®gure 22A. The anterior hamuli in most specimens are strongly recurved when seen in side view (®gure 22A) and are of similar length to the accessory sclerites. The posterior hamuli at (177±189) 141 are half the size of the other haptoral sclerites. Tendons are prominent in the haptor (®gure 22A). A muscle which appears to attach to the proximal end of the posterior hamulus and passes anteriorly towards the proximal end of the anterior hamulus was noted, but its continuing route anteriorly could not be determined (®gure 22A). The marginal valve as shown by Ogawa (1984a, his ®gure 1) is a misrepresentation. In most specimens, it is indented posteriorly at the positions of hooklets II, III and IV and at a position corresponding to the posterior hamuli with one lobe between each indentation; anteriorly, the marginal valve is wider and often has less marked indentations at the positions of the hooklets (®gure 22A).

In some non-type material from the collection of Professor Ogawa, we observed areas of orange pigmentation in the body. The anterior attachment organs in most specimens of B. hoshinai appear characteristic because the body between them seems to extend anteriorly giving a`hooded’ appearance (®gures 1B and 22B).

The male copulatory organ of B. hoshinai was stated by Ogawa (1984a) to be a distinguishing feature, but our study shows it to be similar to most others in the genus. The vas deferens and the duct from the accessory gland reservoir remain separate until close to the distal tip of the penis (®gure 22B).

The germarium clearly possesses an internal fertilization chamber. The vagina of B. hoshinai is unremarkable and opens dorsally (®gure 22B). The vitellarium, however, is characteristic because there is a wide vitellarium-free margin at the edge of the body.

Type-host and locality. Oplegnathus fasciatus (Oplegnathidae) cultured at Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan ( Ogawa, 1984a, 1984b; Hirakawa et al., 1984).

Published records. Benedenia sp. of Hoshina (1966); Ogawa (1984a); Hirakawa et al. (1984).

Descriptions. Hoshina (1966) as Benedenia sp. ; Ogawa (1984a).

Published host records. Oplegnathidae : Oplegnathus fasciatus .

Site . Small worms are found mainly on the mid-dorsal and postero-dorsal surfaces of the body. Adults are abundant on the caudal ®n, dorsal soft-®n rays and the postero-dorsal side of the body surface ( Ogawa, 1984b).

Distribution. Shizuoka Prefecture ( Hoshina, 1966); Nagasaki Prefecture ( Ogawa, 1984a, 1984b; Hirakawa et al., 1984).

Remarks. Ogawa (1984a) made no close comparison with other species when he described B. hoshinai . He diOEerentiated it by the shape of the haptoral sclerites and the male copulatory organ. Benedenia hoshinai is not easily distinguished from others in the genus but our analysis has indicated several diagnosti c features. It is a mediumsized species (e.g. ®gure 3B) but exceeds in most respects the dimensions of species which it most closely resembles, e.g. B. bodiani , B. epinepheli , B. hawaiiensis and B. lolo . However, B. hoshinai can be distinguished further from these four species by a combination of: the breadth of the marginal valve anteriorly; the`hooded’ anterior attachment organs; and the wide, vitellarium-free margin of the body.

Benedenia innobilitata Burhnheim, Gomes and Varela, 1973 (®gure 23)

Material studied. IOC: No. 30819 (paratype) (1 slide, 1 individual) ex gills of Serranus cabrilla (L.) ( Serranidae ) from Cabo Branco, Africa.

Observations. The ®gures and description of B. innobilitata by Burhnheim et al. (1973) are poor. The description was based on two specimens and the only material available for study, the paratype, is poor and of limited use. This has restricted our reappraisal of B. innobilitata because IOC does not lend holotypes .

Benedenia innobilitata at about 5 mm long is a medium-sized species (e.g. ®gure 3B). All that can be seen clearly in the paratype are the shapes of the haptoral sclerites. The anterior hamuli are large, strongly recurved distally and ®gure 23B shows their characteristic pro®le and the accessory sclerites appear to be closely apposed at their proximal tips. Buhrnheim et al. (1973) depicted the accessory sclerites with a recurved distal tip, but we did not observe this. A pair of tendons passing through the bi®d ends of the accessory sclerites can just be seen in the paratype. Burhnheim et al. (1973) failed to count the hooklets but we observed 14. The haptor is folded and therefore precludes an assessment of the marginal valve although it is present and comprises many small lobes as shown by Burhnheim et al. (1973). No details of the reproductive system were observed in the paratype.

Burhnheim et al. (1973, their ®gure 8) suggest that the penis occupies a small penis sac and that the uterus is large, long and joins the penis canal close to the common genital pore but their description does not elaborate on this. The vagina is illustrated to open close to the common genital pore and this feature is repeated in the description, but a swelling with ribbing (muscle?) shown by Burhnheim et al. (1973) is not mentioned in the text. Furthermore, the proximal part of the vagina is shown to merge (?) with the vas deferens but its route is then no longer visible.

Type-host and locality. Serranus cabrilla (Serranidae) , Cabo Branco, Portuguese Coast of North Africa, Atlantic Ocean (we assume the authors refer to the coast of the area of Africa colonized by Portugal?).

Published record and description. Burnheim et al. (1973).

Published host record. Serranidae : Serranus cabrilla .

Site . Gills.

Distribution. Portuguese coast of North Africa, Atlantic Ocean.

Remarks. Our analysis of type material of B. innobilitata has added a few additional details regarding the haptor to the description by Burhnheim et al. (1973). Burhnheim et al. (1973) remarked that B. innobilitata most closely resembled B. jaliscana . They pointed out, however, that B. jaliscana has a muscular vagina which opens well posterior to the common genital pore and has a penis with an unusual distal tip (hooks according to Bravo-Hollis, 1952 and Burhnheim et al., 1973 but see Whittington et al., 1994 and below) whereas B. innobilitata was described as having a vagina with little musculature opening close to the common genital pore and a penis with no unusual distal tip. Burhnheim et al. further distinguished these two species on the basis of the presence or absence of the vitelline reservoir but this character is of no taxonomic use because its size or presence is likely to relate to the amount of vitelline cells accumulated in this storage organ at the time of preservation of individual specimens. Benedenia innobilitata and B. jaliscana are of similar size but the accessory sclerites and the posterior hamuli are larger in B. innobilitata . Furthermore, B. innobilitata lacks the distinctive features mentioned above which characterize B. jaliscana . The characteristic shape and the large size of the anterior hamuli of B. innobilitata distinguish it from remaining members of the genus but on evidence available to us, no other features could be determined to diOEerentiate this species reliably from others. Collection of new material from the type-host and type-locality may enable a full reappraisal of the validity of B. innobilitata .