Ligophorus funnelus, 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 : 255-256

Ligophorus funnelus , new species

( Fig. 9A–G )

Type-host. — Liza subviridis Valenciennes

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

Type specimens. — Holotype: NHMUK 2012.7 .2.14

Paratypes: 4 paratypes NHMUK 2012.7.2.15– 18 in the Natural History Museum , London ; 3 paratypes ZRC.PAR.01, ZRC. PAR.03 and ZRC.PAR.09 in the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research , National University of Singapore ; 26 paratypes MZUM (P)2012.828(P)–853(P) in the University of Malaya collection .

Material studied. — 34 specimens studied; 28 specimens measured.

Etymology. — This species is named after its funnel-like accessory piece. Note that ‘funnelus’ is a noun in apposition.

Description. — Body elongate, 585 (381–790) × 95 (52–134) (n = 28), pharynx size 34 (29–39) × 34 (30–41) (n = 28). Head-organs, eye-spots, and alimentary system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Haptor well demarcated; size 86 (59–117) × 106 (46–162) (n = 28); 14 larval type marginal hooks, length 13 (9–15) (n = 28); two pairs of anchors; 2 dorsal anchors, inner length 25 (22–28) (n = 28), outer length 24 (23–25) (n = 28), inner root 12 (10–13) (n = 28), outer root 7 (5–8) (n = 28); point 6 (4–7) (n = 28); 2 ventral anchors, inner length 29 (24–32) (n = 28), outer length 34 (31–36) (n = 28), inner root 11 (9–13) (n = 28), outer root 9 (5–11) (n = 28), point 5 (4–7) (n = 28); 2 connecting bars: U-shaped dorsal bar, 38 (35–41) × 4 (3–6) (n = 28); ventral bar inverted V, 34 (30–36) × 7 (6–8) (n = 28), AMP with two membranous lateral pieces and flattened median piece, distance between lateral pieces, 6 (5–7) (n = 28). Soft anatomical male reproductive system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Copulatory organ consists of copulatory tube, length 77 (64–85) (n = 28) with bilobed initial part and funnel-like accessory piece, 24 (19–28) (n = 28). Soft anatomical female reproductive system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species except vagina sclerotised, sclerotised vaginal opening, sub-marginal, vaginal tube sclerotised, 37 (33–41) (n = 10), leading to ovoid seminal receptacle, sperm-filled duct from seminal receptacle to oviduct.

Differential diagnosis. — L. funnelus , new species is grouped with L. navjotsodhii , new species and L. chelatus , new species ( Fig. 2 ) in the PCA scatterplot in having anchors, bars and copulatory tube of similar sizes. L. funnelus , new species differs in having a single funnel-shaped accessory piece compared to two opposing accessory pieces in L. navjotsodhii , new species and L. chelatus , new species ( Figs. 9F , 7F , 8F ). The NT analyses show that L. funnelus , new species is similar to L. bantingensis , new species in the structure of the anchors and accessory piece, to L. vanbenedenii in the anchors and AMP and to L. uruguayense , L. pilengas , and L. saladensis in the structure of the bars and AMP ( Table 2). However L. funnelus , new species differs from these abovementioned species in having a single funnel-shaped accessory piece ( Fig. 9F ). L. funnelus , new species is similar to L. bantingensis , new species in the structure of the anchors and in having a funnel-like accessory piece ( Figs. 9F , 11F ) but the two species differ in the detailed structure of the accessory piece, where in L. funnelus , new species, the proximal opening is larger compared to the smaller opening in L. bantingensis , new species; in the detailed structures of the AMP where L. funnelus , new species has a depressed-flat median piece while L. bantingensis , new species has a slight raised median piece ( Figs. 9D , 11D ) and L. bantingensis , new species is smaller in terms of size of anchors, bars and copulatory tube as shown in the scatterplot ( Fig. 2 ).

Figures

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.

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. 7. Ligophorus navjotsodhii, new species. 7i, composite illustration of entire worm (dorsal view). 7A–F, sclerotised hard parts:A, dorsal anchors; B, dorsal bar; C, ventral anchors; D, ventral bar (two forms); E, marginal hook; F, male copulatory organ.

Fig. 8. Ligophorus chelatus, new species. 8i, composite illustration of entire worm (dorsal view). A–G, sclerotised hard parts: 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.

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.