Longigula Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983

Karar, Yasser F. M., Blend, Charles K., Dronen, Norman O. & Adel, Asmaa, 2023, Towards resolving the problematic status of the digenean genus Astiotrema Looss 1900: Taxa excluded from Astiotrema (sensu stricto) with special reference to plagiorchioid genera closely related to the restricted concept of Astiotrema, Zootaxa 5284 (3), pp. 445-495 : 467

Genus Longigula Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983

( Figs. 19 & 20 )

Qiu et al. (1983) established Longigula within the Plagiorchiidae to include two species: the type species, Longigula auris Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983 , from the intestine of the Chinese pond, Chinese three-keeled pond or Reeves’ turtle, Mauremys reevesii (Gray) (syn. Chinemys reevesi [Gray]), from Suixian County, China, as well as Longigula papillus Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983 from the intestine of the snake-eating, yellow-margined box or golden-headed turtle, Cuora flavomarginata (Gray) (syn. Cyclemys flavomarginata [Gray]) ( Testudines : Geoemydidae ), from Wuhan, China. In a comparison with Astiotrema (sensu stricto), Longigula exhibits the same morphology, in particular, possessing a unipartite sacciform seminal vesicle within the cirrus-pouch (see Qiu et al. 1983, figs. 1, 4) as well as sharing the same host group ( Geoemydidae ) and recorded common locality ( China) (see Karar et al. 2021). Based on the nature of the seminal vesicle within the Plagiorchiidae (bipartite, tubular or coiled) either at the expanded or restricted levels, we find Longigula does not resemble plagiorchiids; it appears most closely related to Astiotrema (sensu stricto) and its derived and closely related genera ( Homeoastiotrema , Ichthyastiotrema and Plesioastiotrema ) in almost all morphology except its possessing papillae-like lateral lobes or ventrolateral lappets on both sides of the oral sucker, a post-equatorial ovary, and a distinctly large distance separating the ovary from the ventral sucker (see Qiu et al. 1983).

Figures

FIGURES 19 & 20. Taxa recognized within Longigula Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983. 19. Longigula auris Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983, ventral view, redrawn from Qiu et al. (1983, fig. 1). 20. Longigula papillus Qiu, Zhang & Li, 1983, ventral view, redrawn from Qiu et al. (1983, fig. 4). Abbreviations: AT, anterior testis; Ce, cecum; CP, cirrus-pouch; Es, esophagus; GP, genital pore; Me, metraterm; OS, oral sucker; Ov, ovary; Ph, pharynx; PL, papillate lobes; PP, pars prostatica; PT, posterior testis; SR, seminal receptacle; SV, seminal vesicle; Ut, uterus; VF, vitelline follicle; VL, ventrolateral lappets; VS, ventral sucker. Scale bars: Fig. 19 = 1,000 µm; Fig. 20 = 1,000 µm.