A new species of the genus Notozothecium (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) parasitizing the gills of Rhaphiodon vulpinus (Cynodontidae, Characiformes) from the Paraná River, State of Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

DURING PARASITOLOGICAL STUDIES ON DIFFERENT LOCALITIES ALONG THE PARANÁ RIVER, STATE OF PARANÁ, BRAZIL, A NEW SPECIES OF NOTOZOTHECIUM (DACTYLOGYRIDAE) WAS FOUND PARASITIZING GILLS OF THE FRESHWATER FISH RHAPHIODON VULPINUS (CYNODONTIDAE). THE NEW SPECIES IS ALLOCATED TO NOTOZOTHECIUM BASED ON THE PRESENCE OF A VENTRAL BAR WITH ANTEROMEDIAL PROJECTION, A COPULATORY COMPLEX COMPRISING A COILED MALE COPULATORY ORGAN (MCO) WITH A COUNTERCLOCKWISE INCOMPLETE RING AND ACCESSORY PIECE WITH PROXIMAL ARTICULATION PROCESS AND A DEXTRODORSAL VAGINA, LOOPING THE RIGHT INTESTINAL CAECUM. NOTOZOTHECIUM LAMOTHEARGUMEDOI N. SP. IS SIMILAR TO NOTOZOTHECIUM JANAUACHENSIS, BY THE ABSENCE OF TERMINAL FL ABELLATE PLATE ON THE ACCESSORY PIECE, BUT DIFFERS FROM IT IN THE SHAPE OF THE BARS, THE COPULATORY COMPLEX AND THE DIFFERENCE OF THE SIZE-RATIO BETWEEN VENTRAL AND DORSAL ANCHORS, WHICH IN N. JANAUACHENSIS IS LARGER.