Ligophorus kedahensis, Lim, 2012

Lim, O. Y. M. Soo L. H. S., 2012, Eight New Species Of Ligophorus Euzet & Suriano, 1977 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) From Mugilids Off Peninsular Malaysia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 60 (2), pp. 241-264 : 259

Ligophorus kedahensis , new species

( Fig. 13A–F )

Type-host. — Valamugil buchanani Bleeker Type-locality. — Off Langkawi Island , Kedah, Malaysia (6°21'N, 99°46'E)

Type-specimens. — Holotype: NHMUK 2012.7 .2.30

Paratypes: 5 paratypes NHMUK 2012.7.2.31– 35 in the Natural History Museum , London ; 2 paratypes ( ZRC.PAR.11) in the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research , National University of Singapore ; 59 paratypes MZUM (P)2012.969(P)–1027(P) in the University of Malaya collection .

Material studied. — 67 specimens studied; 67 specimens measured.

Etymology. — This species is named after the state of Kedah.

Description. — Body elongate, 1181 (567–1455) × 199 (103–278) (n = 67), pharynx size 59 (44–71) × 60 (48–71) (n = 30). Head-organs, eye-spots and alimentary system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Haptor well demarcated, size 141 (74–169) × 139 (81–201) (n = 67); 14 larval type marginal hooks, similar, length 11 (10–13) (n = 67); two pairs of anchors; 2 dorsal anchors, inner length 35 (31–41) (n = 67), outer length 32 (27–37) (n = 67), inner root 16 (12–21) (n = 67), outer root 8 (6–11) (n = 67), point 11 (6–14) (n = 67); 2 ventral anchors, inner length 34 (27–38) (n = 67), outer length 32 (27–35) (n = 67), inner root 17 (12–22) (n = 67), outer root 11 (6–15) (n = 67), point 7 (5–12) (n = 67); 2 connecting bars: dorsal bar broad inverted U, 51 (43–58) × 6 (4–8) (n = 67); ventral bar inverted V, 51 (44–57) × 8 (5–10) (n = 67), AMP consists of two membranous lateral pieces and a raised median piece, distance between lateral pieces, 12 (7–15) (n = 67). Copulatory organ consists of copulatory tube, length 65 (57–75) (n = 67) with bilobed initial part and a boat-like simple grooved accessory piece, 33 (25–40) (n = 67). Vaginal opening and tube not observed.

Differential diagnosis. — L. kedahensis , new species is distinctly grouped from the other seven species in the PCA scatterplot ( Fig. 2 ). This species is the second largest of the present new species. The lateral pieces of the AMP are set far apart as in L. zhangi except that in the present species, the median piece is raised while in L. zhangi the median piece is flat. L. kedahensis , new species differs from the present species in having a simple grooved accessory piece which is boat-like ( Fig. 13F ) compared to L. parvicopulatrix , new species which has a simple grooved accessory piece ( Fig. 10F ). This species is not grouped with any previous or present species twice for any characters used in the NT analyses. However it is morphologically similar to L. fenestrum , new species based on the copulatory organ (copulatory tube and accessory piece) but differs in L. fenestrum , new species having fenestrated anchors ( Fig. 14A, C ) and L. kedahensis , new species lack the fenestration ( Fig. 13A, C ).

Figures

Fig. 13. Ligophorus kedahensis, new species:A, dorsal anchors; B,

Fig. 2. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) scatterplot of 318 Ligophorus specimens.The vertical and horizontal bar plots indicate one-dimensional summary of the principle component axes.

Fig. 10. Ligophorus parvicopulatrix, new species:A, dorsal anchors; B, dorsal bar; C, ventral anchors; D, ventral bar (two forms); E, marginal hook; F, male copulatory organ.

Fig. 14. Ligophorus fenestrum, new species: A, dorsal anchors; B, dorsal bar; C, ventral anchors; D, ventral bar; E, marginal hook; F, male copulatory organ.