New species of Haliotrema Johnston et Tiegs, 1922 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) of the gills of Lactophrys polygonia (Pisces: Ostracidae) of Mochima Bay, Venezuela

Abstract

A NEW SPECIES OF HALIOTREMA (MONOGENEA: DACTYLOGYRIDAE) IS DESCRIBED FROM THE GILLS OF THE «TORITO» LACTOPRHYS POLYGONIA (OSTRACIODAE), CAPTURED IN MOCHIMA BAY, NORTHEAST OF THE COAST OF VENEZUELA. PREVALENCE: 77.70%; INTENSITY: 70-100; MEAN INTENSITY: 85.80. SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT DISTINGUISH THE NEW SPECIES ARE: THE STRUCTURE OF THE ANCHOR/BAR COMPLEX, THE NUMBER OF PROSTATIC GLANDS, THE STRUCTURE AND POSITION OF THE PROSTATIC RESERVOIR, THE FORM AND STRUCTURE OF THE VAGINA, THE PRESENCE OF LOBULATE TESTICLE, AND ESPECIALLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE COPULATORY COMPLEX. THE LATTER IS FORMED BY A TUBULAR, BIPARTITE COPULATORY ORGAN, WITH A SAIL-SHAPED ACCESSORY PIECE WITH ENGROSSED EXTERNAL MARGIN, FORMING A SPIRAL RUNNING ALL ALONG THE DISTAL PORTION.