Neowardula, Al-Jahdali, Mohammed O., 2010

Al-Jahdali, Mohammed O., 2010, Helminth parasites from Red Sea fishes: Neowardula brayi gen. nov., sp. nov. (Trematoda: Mesometridae Poche, 1926) and Sclerocollum saudii sp. nov. (Acanthocephala: Cavisomidae Meyer, 1932), Zootaxa 2681, pp. 57-65 : 58

Neowardula gen. nov.

( Fig. 1 A–C)

Diagnosis. Mesometridae . Body robust, elongate, broadest in posterior third. Ventral surface anterior to intestinal bifurcation greatly modified, forming a well-developed, relatively deep pouch or an accessory attachment structure encircling the genital pore. Tegument armed with fine spines dorsally and ventrally. Eyespot pigment absent. Ventral sucker absent. Pharynx relatively small, sub-terminal; oral opening anteroventral. Esophagus relatively long, without muscular bulb. Intestinal bifurcation at the end of anterior fifth of body; ceca simple, wide, extend to near anterior border of anterior testis. Testes two, relatively large, postcaecal, diagonal, entire, oval, contiguous, near posterior extremity. Seminal vesicle tubular, sinuous, ends as narrow ejaculatory duct; pars prostatica apparently absent. Genital atrium present. Genital pore median, at the center of the accessory attachment structure; nearly at midway between pharynx and intestinal bifurcation. OVary sphericalʼ entireʼ nearly medianʼ οVerlapping pοsteriοr bοrder οf pοsteriοr testis• Μehlisۥ gland pοsterο̄ median tο οVary• Laurerۥs canal οpens dοrsally• Vitelline reserVοir smallʼ Ventral tο οVary• Vitelline fοllicles irregular, ventral, extending in lateral fields along the entire length of intestinal ceca. Uterus forms regular transverse loops in intercaecal space, may form 2–3 short loops in post-testicular space. Metraterm absent. Eggs numerous, operculate, without polar filament. Excretory system reticular, with a tiny postovarian excretory vesicle; pore dorso-subterminal. Intestinal parasites of marine teleosts. Type species: N. brayi .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Neowardula brayi gen. nov. sp. nov. (ventral view) from Acanthopagrus bifasciatus, Red Sea. A. Wholemount (holotype). B. Terminal genitalia. C. Excretory system. Scale bars = 1 mm (A, C) and 500 µm (B).