Comparative Parasitology 67(1) 2000 - Peru State College

er, and Boeger, 1986, and Amphocleithrium
Price and Gonzalez-Romero, 1969, by having
tandem gonads, nondilated hook shanks each
with 1 subunit, counterclockwise rings in the
male copulatory organ, a seminal vesicle formed
by a simple dilation of the vas deferens, a sinistral
vaginal pore, and a nonsclerotized vagina. It
differs from Cosmetocleithrum by lacking 2 submedial
projections on the dorsal bar and by having
well-developed eyes (Kritsky et al., 1986).
Aphanoblastella differs from Amphocleithrium
by possessing 2 pairs of eyes and a nonarticulated
male copulatory organ and accessory piece
(Suriano and Incorvaia, 1995).
The internal anatomy of species of Aphanoblastella
is also identical to that of Demidospermus
Suriano, 1983, as emended by Kritsky
and Gutierrez (1998). Aphanoblastella differs
from Demidospermus spp. by possessing short
ventral bars with a medial process (ventral bars
elongate, V- or W-shaped, lacking a medial process
in Demidospermus}. Thumbs of hook pairs
5 and 6 are modified in species of Demidospermus
(see Kritsky and Gutierrez, 1998), whereas
all hooks are similar and unmodified in Aphanoblastella
spp.
Three previously described species of Urocleidoides
(sensu lato) from Rhamdia spp., U.
travassosi (Price, 1938), U. robustus Mizelle
and Kritsky, 1969, and U. mastigatus Suriano,
1986, are transferred to Aphanoblastella as A.
travassosi (Price, 1938) comb, n., A. robustus
(Mizelle and Kritsky, 1969) comb, n., and A.
mastigatus (Suriano, 1986) comb, n., respectively.
Aphanoblastella travassosi comb. n. is the
type species and therefore defines the new genus.
Aphanoblastella mastigatus comb. n. also
is clearly a member of the genus based on the
original description (compare figures and description
in Suriano, 1986a). Aphanoblastella
mastigatus appears to be the sister species of A.
travassosi.
The original description of U. robustus by
Mizelle and Kritsky (1969) was based on unstained
and cleared specimens mounted in Gray
and Wess' medium. Mizelle and Kritsky (1969)
described the gonads to be tandem or overlapping,
suggesting that the germarium is anterior
to the testis with which it may overlap; the type
specimens of U. robustus available to us were
not useful in confirming gonadal position. Thus,
our transfer of this species to Aphanoblastella is
based on the original statements by Mizelle and
KRITSKY ET AL.—DACTYLOGYRIDS FROM MEXICAN CENOTES 81
Kritsky (1969) concerning gonadal position and
on the similar position and morphology of sclerotized
haptoral and copulatory structures to
those of A. travassosi.
Aphanoblastella travassosi (Price, 1938)
comb. n.
(Figs. 10-18)
REDESCRIPTION: Body 282 (204-364; n =
34) long; greatest width 104 (77-127; n = 32)
in posterior trunk. Cephalic lobes poorly to moderately
developed. Eyes equidistant, posterior
pair larger; accessory granules usually uncommon
in cephalic region. Pharynx subspherical,
28 (21-33; n = 23) in diameter; esophagus
short. Peduncle broad; haptor 55 (45-63; n =
31) wide, 40 (33-50; n = 32) long. Ventral anchor
22 (21-24; n = 13) long, with elongate
superficial root, short deep root, straight shaft,
curved elongate point; base 16 (14-17; n = 11)
wide, variable. Dorsal anchor 24 (21-27; n =
11) long, with well-developed roots, straight
shaft, elongate curved point; base 16 (14-18;
n = 12) wide. Ventral bar 32 (29-37; n = 10)
long, delicate, broadly V-shaped, with posteromedial
process directed posteriorly; dorsal bar
37 (31-44; n = 9) long, broadly V-shaped, with
narrowed bulbous ends. Hook 13 (12—14; n =
23) long, with protruding thumb, delicate point,
fine shank; FH loop about two-thirds shank
length. Male copulatory organ 41 (38-45; n =
5) long, a coil of about 2 rings, base of male
copulatory organ with small sclerotized plate;
diameter of proximal ring 5 (4-6; n = 6). Accessory
piece 31 (28-36; n = 4) long, rodshaped,
with broad terminal acute tip. Testis
ovate, 51 (40-59; n = 19) long, 35 (25-46;
n = 18) wide; seminal vesicle indistinct, fusiform,
lying to left of male copulatory organ;
prostatic reservoir not observed. Germarium 28
(20-44; n = 23) long, 22 (18-25; n = 23) wide,
pyriform, comprising comparatively few cells;
oviduct, ootype not observed; uterus delicate;
vagina a diagonal tube extending to left body
margin, vaginal aperture simple; seminal receptacle
small.
SYNONYMS: Cleidodiscus travassosi Price,
1938; Urocleidoides travassosi (Price, 1938)
Molnar, Hanek, and Fernando, 1974.
HOST AND LOCALITY: Gills of Rhamdia guatemalensis
(Giinther); Ixin-ha Cenote, Yucatan,
Mexico (20°37'14"N; 89°06'40"W) (13 June
Copyright © 2011, The Helminthological Society of Washington