Comparative Parasitology 67(2) 2000 - Peru State College

(see Johnston and Tiegs, 1922; Murray, 1931;
Young, 1969).
In L. kuwaitensis, the posterior spinelets are
delicate (or frequently absent, an apparent artifact
resulting from deterioration of the specimen before
fixation) and resemble those of L. angusta
as depicted by Young (1969). These species are
easily separated by the comparative morphology
of the copulatory complexes (sigmoid in L. kuwaitensis;
coiled with about 1 ring in L. angusta).
Examination of the types of Diplectanum longipenis
(Yamaguti, 1934) Yamaguti, 1963
(=Squamodiscus longipenis Yamaguti, 1934),
confirmed that L. kuwaitensis shares many features
(general morphology and arrangement of
the sclerotized haptoral and copulatory sclerites
and internal reproductive organs) with this species
and may be more closely aligned to it than
to those from fresh water. While staining procedures
used by Yamaguti (1934) did not allow
us to see spinelets near the posterior margin of
the squamodisc in D. longipenis, similarities in
the morphology of sclerotized structures and the
general organization of the reproductive organs
suggest that the 2 species are congeneric. Thus,
we propose the transfer of D. longipenis to Lepidotrema
as L. longipenis (Yamaguti, 1934)
comb. n. Squamodiscus Yamaguti, 1934, is removed
from synonymy with Diplectanum and
becomes a junior subjective synonym of Lepidotrema.
Lepidotrema kuwaitensis differs from
L. longipenis by having delicate anchors (base
of dorsal anchor in L. kuwaitensis narrow; broad
in D. longipenis) and by the number of rodlet
rows in the squamodisc (8—10 rows in L. kuwaitensis;
18-21 in D. longipenis).
Pseudolamellodiscus sphyraenae Yamaguti,
1953
(Figs. 24-34)
REDESCRIPTION: Diplectaninae. Body 1196
(1020-1354; n = 17) long, flattened dorsoventrally;
greatest width 244 (196-289; n = 16)
usually in anterior trunk. Trunk with anterior
dextroventral sclerite, posterior dextroventral
sclerite, sinistroventral spined pit. Anterior dextroventral
sclerite 58 (48-72; n = 26) long, with
lobulate base, rod-shaped distal end protruding
from small ventral pore, spined; number of
spines variable. Posterior dextroventral sclerite
37 (32-45; n = 27) long, spatulate, with incised
distal margin; sinistroventral pit blind, with 4—6
KRITSKY ET AL.—DIPLECTANIDS FROM KUWAIT 153
spines, opening ventrally via small aperture
through tegument; tips of spines usually protruding
through pore. Tegument smooth. Cephalic
margin tapered; cephalic lobes poorly developed;
head organs numerous along anterolateral
margins of cephalic area; cephalic glands
posterolateral to pharynx. Eyes 4; members of
posterior pair larger, slightly farther apart than
anterior members; 1 member of each pair occasionally
absent; granules small, irregular; accessory
granules uncommon in cephalic region.
Mouth subterminal, ventral to anterior portion of
pharynx; pharynx 61 (53-70; n = 19) wide,
elongate, ovate; esophagus short to nonexistent;
intestinal ceca blind. Peduncle broad. Haptor
337 (260-421; n = 18) wide, 114 (93-148;
n = 18) long, bilaterally lobed; squamodiscs
similar, each 61 (47-70; n = 17) long, 249
(200-310; n = 17) wide, with approximately 45
longitudinal parallel rows of dumbbell-shaped
spines in anterior portion of squamodisc; posterior
portion with numerous spine-like scales.
Ventral anchor 41 (36-44; n = 25) long, with
elongate deep root, knob-like superficial root,
slightly curved shaft, recurved point extending
past level of tip of superficial anchor root; anchor
base 11 (10—12; n = 3) wide. Dorsal anchor
33 (31-36; n = 31) long, with short deep
root, triangular superficial root perpendicular to
anchor base, curved shaft, point extending past
level of tip of superficial root of anchor base;
anchor base 9 (8-11; n = 6) wide. Ventral bar
268 (218-328; n = 22) long, narrowed medially,
ends tapered, recurved anteriorly; ventral groove
present. Paired dorsal bar 69 (59-87; n = 25)
long, club-shaped. Hooks similar; each 10-11 (n
= 26) long, with protruding depressed thumb,
delicate point, shank. Hook pair 1 submarginal,
lying posterior to bars near base of haptoral
lobes; pairs 2-7 located on lateral haptoral
lobes; FH loop shank length. Male copulatory
organ 33 (31-35; n = 9) long, with large base,
bent shaft, acute bent tip, subbasal pointed projection.
Accessory piece absent. Common genital
pore absent; male genital pore lying ventrally
to left of body midline slightly posterior to male
copulatory organ; uterine pore ventral, slightly
posterior to level of male genital pore, somewhat
dextral to body midline. Testis 165 (144-184; n
= 15) long, 81 (59-98; n = 16) wide, ovate;
course of vas deferens not observed; 2 seminal
vesicles simple dilations of vas deferens; proximal
vesicle elongate, fusiform, lying along mid-
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