Ligophorus bantingensis, 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 : 257

Ligophorus bantingensis , new species

( Fig. 11A–F )

Type-host. — Liza subviridis Valenciennes

Type-locality. — Off Carey Island , Banting, Malaysia (2°51'N, 101°22'E)

Type specimens. — Holotype: NHMUK 2012.7 .2.26

Paratypes: 1 paratype NHMUK 2012.7 . 2.27 in the Natural History Museum , London ; 2 paratypes ZRC.PAR.06 and ZRC.PAR. 10 in the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research , National University of Singapore ; 14 paratypes MZUM (P)2012.222(P)–235(P) in the University of Malaya collection .

Material studied. — 18 specimens studied; 17 specimens measured.

Etymology. — This species is named after the type locality.

Description. — Body elongate, 631 (418–804) × 103 (54– 148) (n = 17), pharynx ovoid, size 35 (26–41) × 33 (24–39) (n = 17). Head-organs, eye-spots and alimentary system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Haptor well demarcated, size 74 (59–98) × 78 (50–105) (n = 17); 14 larval type marginal hooks, similar, length 11 (8–13) (n = 17); two pairs of anchors; 2 dorsal anchors, inner length 22 (20–24) (n = 17), outer length 22 (20–24) (n = 17), inner root 8 (7–10) (n = 17), outer root 4 (3–5) (n = 17), point 9 (7–10) (n = 17); 2 smaller ventral anchors, inner length 14 (12–19) (n = 17), outer length 14 (10–15) (n = 17), inner root 8 (5–10) (n = 17), outer root 4 (2–5) (n = 17), point 6 (4–8) (n = 17); 2 connecting bars: dorsal bar broad, inverted U, 28 (26–32) × 4 (2–5) (n = 17); ventral bar compact, inverted V, 29 (26–31) × 3 (2–4) (n = 17), AMP with two small, compact non-membranous lateral pieces and slightly raised median piece, distance between lateral pieces, 7 (6–8) (n = 17). Soft anatomical male reproductive system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Copulatory organ consists of copulatory tube, length 69 (59–97) (n = 17) with bilobed initial part, ornamented on smaller lobe and simple funnel-shaped accessory piece, 23 (18–28) (n = 17). Soft anatomical female reproductive system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species except vagina present. Vaginal opening heavily sclerotised, median at level of recurved portion of ovary, vaginal tube thin, sclerotised, 37 (33–42) (n = 10), leading to ovoid sperm-filled seminal receptacle.

Differential diagnosis. — L. bantingensis , new species, is unique in possessing the smallest and shortest anchors and bars and having a slender, small funnel-shaped accessory piece compared to all the present new species ( Fig. 11F ) and hence is distinctly grouped from the present seven species in the PCA scatterplot ( Fig. 2 ). The NT analyses shows that L. bantingensis , new species is similar to L. funnelus , new species in the structure of the anchors and in having a funnel-like accessory piece but the two species differ in L. bantingensis , new species having the smaller anchors and bars and also in the detailed structure of the ventral bar and AMP; small ventral bar with slightly raised median piece in L. bantingensis , new species compared to a bigger ventral bar with a flat median piece in L. funnelus , new species ( Figs. 11D , 9D ) as well as in the smaller proximal opening of the funnel in L. bantingensis , new species compared to the larger proximal opening in L. funnelus , new species ( Figs. 11F , 9F ). Based on NT analyses, L. bantingensis , new species and L. parvicopulatrix , new species have morphologically similar anchors and bars but in L. bantingensis , new species, the anchors and bars are comparatively smaller. L. bantingensis , new species is similar to L. huitrempe in the structure of the bars and AMP ( Table 2) but differs in the structure of the accessory piece; L. bantingensis , new species has a small slender funnel-like accessory piece ( Fig. 11F ) compared to a bifurcated accessory piece in L. huitrempe .

Figures

Fig. 11. Ligophorus bantingensis, new species: A, dorsal anchors; B, dorsal bar; C, ventral anchors; D, ventral bar; E, marginal hook; F, male copulatory organ; G, vaginal opening and seminal receptacle.

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. 9. Ligophorus funnelus, new species: A, dorsal anchors; B, dorsal bar; C, ventral anchors; D, ventral bar (two forms); E, marginal hook; F, male copulatory organ; G, vaginal opening and seminal receptacle.