Ligophorus parvicopulatrix, 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 : 256-257

Ligophorus parvicopulatrix , new species ( Fig. 10A–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 .2.19

Paratypes: 6 paratypes NHMUK 2012.7.2.20– 25 in the Natural History Museum , London ; 1 paratype ZRC.PAR.04 in the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research , National University of Singapore ; 61 paratypes MZUM (P)2012.22(P)–82(P) in the University of Malaya collection .

Material studied. — 69 specimens studied; 60 specimens measured.

Etymology. — This species is named after its small copulatory organ.

Description. — Body elongate, 1078 (642–1454) × 166 (73–231) (n = 60), pharynx ovoid, 53 (46–59) × 53 (46–59) (n = 30). Head-organs, eye-spots and alimentary system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Haptor well demarcated, size 122 (85–175) × 150 (71–208) (n = 60); 14 larval type marginal hooks, similar, length 11 (9–13) (n = 60); two pairs of anchors; 2 dorsal anchors, inner length 27 (23–30) (n = 60), outer length 29 (24–33) (n = 60), inner root 13 (10–15) (n = 60), outer root 10 (8–12) (n = 60), point 5 (3–8) (n = 60); 2 ventral anchors, inner length 29 (26–32) (n = 60), outer length 34 (32–36) (n = 60), inner root 13 (11–15) (n = 60), outer root 12 (10–14) (n = 60), point 5 (4–6) (n = 60); 2 connecting bars: dorsal bar slightly bent, 49 (38–59) × 5 (3–6) (n = 60); ventral bar broad inverted U, 39 (36–46) × 8 (7–9) (n = 60), AMP with two non-membranous lateral pieces and a raised median piece, distance between lateral pieces, 2 (1–4) (n = 60). Soft anatomical male reproductive system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species. Copulatory organ consists of copulatory tube, length 48 (41–71) (n = 60) with bilobed initial part, ornamentation on smaller lobe and simple tubular grooved accessory piece, 21 (17–26) (n = 60). Soft anatomical female reproductive system as in L. navjotsodhii , new species, sclerotised vaginal opening, median, at level of recurved portion of ovary, vaginal tube not observed, ovoid sperm-filled seminal receptacle, seminal receptacle tube to oviduct not observed.

Differential diagnosis. — L. parvicopulatrix , new species is well separated in the PCA scatterplot ( Fig. 2 ) from the other seven new species and is characterised by having the shortest simple grooved accessory piece and copulatory tube and also in having a raised elongate median piece with two lateral non-membranous pieces. Raised elongated median pieces can be found in L. pacificus , L. domnichi , L. brasiliensis , L. tainhae , and L. lizae , but these species differ from L. parvicopulatrix , new species in having membranous lateral pieces. Based on NT analyses, L. parvicopulatrix , new species is grouped with L. bantingensis , new species in having anchors and bars of similar size and with L. hamulosus in the structure of the anchors, accessory piece and AMP ( Table 2). However, L. parvicopulatrix , new species differs from L. bantingensis , new species in having a simple grooved accessory piece ( Fig. 10F ) compared to funnel-like in L. bantingensis , new species ( Fig. 11F ). L. parvicopulatrix , new species is similar to L. hamulosus in the structure of the anchors, in having a grooved accessory piece and two lateral non-membranous pieces in the AMP ( Table 2) but the two species differ in the structure of the median piece of the AMP; a raised elongate median piece in L. parvicopulatrix , new species ( Fig. 10D ) compared to the flat median piece in L. hamulosus .

Figures

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. 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. 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.