Desmogonius baldassinae n. sp. (Digenea: Pronocephalidae) collected in a green sea turtle-Chelonia mydas-from Brazil.

ABSTRACT

The genus Desmogonius (Digenea Pronocephalidae) is known only from sea turtles and currently contains two species D. desmogonius Stephens, 1911 and D. loossi Chattopadhyaya, 1972. The present study describes a third species, Desmogonius baldassinae n. sp. found in a juvenile green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Brazil. The new species is larger than its congeners in all dimensions, with vitellinic fields ending posterior to the ovary. In addition, we present a key for species identification and an emended diagnosis of the genus Desmogonius.