New and previously known ectoparasitic monogenoids (Platyhelminthes) on native and non-native fishes from tributaries of the Usumacinta River basin (southern Mexico), a Neotropical transition zone.

During a research on morphological diversity of gill ectoparasites on native and non-native fishes from tributaries (Palizada, El Recreo and Lacantún rivers) of the Usumacinta River Basin in the states of Campeche, Tabasco, and Chiapas (southern Mexico), the following monogenoids were found: Icelanonchohaptor tropicalis n. sp. on Usumacinta buffalo Ictiobus meridionalis (Günther, 1868) (Catostomidae); Heteropriapulus simplexiodes n. sp. and Heteropriapulus heterotylioides n. sp. on catfishes Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau, 1855) (Loricariidae) (type host) and Pterygoplichthys disyunctivus (Weber, 1991); Ligictaluridus mirabilis (Mueller 1937; Klassen and Beverley-Burton1985 from the southern blue catfish Ictalurus meridionalis (Günther, 1864) (Ictaluridae); Aristocleidus mexicanus Mendoza-Franco and Vidal-Martínez, 2001 on Eugerres mexicanus (Steindachner, 1863) (Gerreidae) (all monogenoidean species in the Dactylogyridae); and Diplectanocotyla megalopis Rakotofiringa and Oliver1987 (Diplectanidae) on tarpon Megalops atlanticus Valenciennes, 1847 (Megalopidae). The new species of Icelanonchohaptor and Heteropriapulus are herein described for the first time from a native catostomid and non-native Pterygoplichthys spp., respectively. While I. tropicalis n. sp. and L. mirabilis are morphologically comparable with their congeners from the Nearctic (i.e., United States and Canada), all other monogenoids exhibited Neotropical affinities. Present study shown that the gill monogenoids on native and non-native fishes in the Neotropical Mexican transition zone of the Usumacinta River basin are equally represented by species with Nearctic and Neotropical affinities including those adapted to freshwater environment in this area from marine ancestry.

Diaphorocleidus machacae n. sp. (Monogenea) Infecting the Gill Lamellae of Brycon guatemalensis (Characiformes: Bryconidae) from the Rio Lacantún Basin in Chiapas, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: There are currently nine known gill monogenean species of Diaphorocleidus Jogunoori et al. (Systematic Parasitology 58:115-124, 2004) (Dactylogyridae) which are dispersed within and/or among five fish families in the Neotropical Characiformes: Bryconidae, Acestrorhynchidae, Characidae, Iguanodectidae, and Hemiodontidae. During a fish parasitological study carried out in the Rio Lacantún from Chiapas, Mexico, a new species of Diaphorocleidus on the gill lamellae of Brycon guatemalensis Regan, 1908, was discovered. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to morphologically describe the new parasite species by comparing it with previously described species of Diaphorocleidus and other known dactylogyrids on Characiformes. METHODS: Worms were fixed with 4-5% formalin solution, observed and measured as temporary or permanent mounts stained with Gomori's trichrome, and mounted in Canada balsam. In addition, some specimens were mounted on slides using a mixture of lactic acid (LA) and glycerin-ammonium picrate (GAP) and then remounted in Canada balsam to obtain measurements of the haptoral structures and copulatory complex. Drawings were made with the aid of a drawing tube using a Leica microscope DM2500 with Nomarski interference contrast. RESULTS: The new species differs from previously described congeneric species in having comparatively biggest body size [i.e., 800-1200 µm vs. 222-340 µm in Diaphorocleidus armillatus Jogunoori et al. (Systematic Parasitology 58:115-124, 2004) (type species of the genus)]; two prostatic reservoirs; rod-shaped accessory piece; a sucker-like structure associated with the genital pore; vaginal duct looping left intestinal cecum and opening on the dextro-dorsal margin of body; anchors with conspicuous basal folds on the deep roots weakly developed. CONCLUSIONS: Consistently with the previous phylogenetic hypotheses about the origin of bryconids (20 mya late Oligocene-early Miocene) in Central America, that morphological differentiation in D. machacae n. sp. in Mexico may somewhat reflect the insights of an early dispersal of a common ancestor of Diaphorocleidus to the area in comparison with that of a late invasion of their congeners [i.e., according to the origin of B. petrosus (10 mya) 10 mya] in Central America. The present finding brings to ten, the number of known species of Diaphorocleidus, and represents the second described species of this genus occurring in a freshwater native host in Mexico.

New species of Paracolpenteron n. gen. and Ancyrocephalus (Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) inhabiting the urinary bladder and gills of the Maya needlefish Strongylura hubbsi (Beloniformes, Belonidae) from Chiapas, Mexico.

Parasitological examination of the maya needlefish Strongylura hubbsi Collette (Belonidae) from the Rio Lacantún basin in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico showed that specimens were parasitized by two monogenean species in two different sites: Paracolpenteron hubbsii n. gen., n. sp in the urinary bladder and Ancyrocephalus chiapanensis n. sp in the gill lamellae. Paracolpenteron hubbsii differs from other dactylogyrid species without a haptoral anchor/bar complex infecting the urinary systems, gills and nasal cavities by the general morphology of hooks, a dextral vaginal opening, a tubular male copulatory organ comprising a base from which a coiled shaft arises in counterclockwise direction, and an unarticulated Y-shaped accessory piece. Ancyrocephalus chiapanensis n. sp. resembles Ancyrocephalus cornutus William & Rogers, 1972 from the gills of Strongylura marina from Florida from which it differs in possessing a twisted tube of the male copulatory organ (curved in A. cornutus), ventral bar with cavities on the ends (cavities absent in A. cornutus) and by the size of the ventral (length 31-34 µm vs. 24-27 µm in A. cornutus) and dorsal (length 25-28 µm vs. 18-22 µm in A. cornutus) anchors. These new monogeneans are described herein and their biogeography is briefly discussed based on the previous phylogenetic hypotheses concerning the host family.

Host-parasite relationships of Rhabdochona kidderi Pearse, 1936 (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) in fishes of the Lacantún River in the Lacandon rain forest of Chiapas State, southern Mexico, with a key to Mexican species of Rhabdochona Railliet, 1916.

For the first time, the nematode Rhabdochona kidderi kidderi Pearse, 1936 (Rhabdochonidae) was recorded from fishes of the Lacantún River (Usumacinta River basin) in the Lacandon rain forest, Chiapas State, southern Mexico. Amphilophus nourissati (Allgayer) and Theraps irregularis Günther (both Perciformes: Cichlidae) were found to be the only definitive hosts in the locality, whereas Eugerres mexicanus (Steindachner) (Perciformes: Gerreidae), Ariopsis sp., Cathorops aguadulce (Meek) and Potomarius nelsoni (Evermann & Goldsborough) (all Siluriformes: Ariidae), Ictalurus furcatus (Valenciennes) (Siluriformes: Ictaluridae) and Strongylura hubbsi Collette (Beloniformes: Belonidae) all harboured the nematode's fourth-stage larva and only served as paratenic hosts. All these fish species represent new host records for this parasite. The morphology of both adults and larvae was studied in detail by light and scanning electron microscopy, and some conspecific museum specimens from three other host species were also examined for comparison. Rhabdochona ictaluri Aguilar-Aguilar, Rosas-Valdez & Pérez-Ponce de León, 2010 is considered here to be a junior synonym of R. kidderi kidderi. A high degree of the variability of some morphological and biometrical features (deirid shape, left spicule length) and an unusually wide range of hosts suggest that R. kidderi may represent a species complex, but further studies are necessary in this respect. A key to Rhabdochona species and subspecies occurring in Mexico is provided.

Spinitectus osorioi (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) in the Mexican endemic fish Atherinella alvarezi (Atherinopsidae) from the Atlantic River drainage system in Chiapas, Southern Mexico.

Specimens of Spinitectus osorioi Choudhury and Pérez-Ponce de León, an intestinal nematode species previously considered to be specific to Chirostoma spp and endemic to some lakes in the Pacific drainage in Michoacán, were collected from the freshwater fish Atherinella alvarezi (Díaz-Pardo) (Atherinopsidae) of the Michol River near Palenque, Chiapas, Southern Mexico, which belongs to the Atlantic drainage system. Studies using light and scanning electron microscopy revealed some taxonomically important, previously unreported or erroneously reported features of S. osorioi, such as the location of the vulva, the actual number and distribution of postanal papillae and phasmids and the presence of a short median cuticular ridge anterior to the cloacal opening (in addition to two long subventral ridges). The recorded somewhat shorter spicules (420-465 and 105-111 microm) and mostly smaller eggs (33-36 x 18-20 microm) as compared to the original species description may be due to a different type of host, geographical region or generally smaller body measurements of these specimens. These biometrical differences are considered to be within the limits of the intraspecific variability of S. osorioi. A key to species of Spinitectus parasitizing freshwater fishes in Mexico is provided.

Spinitectus osorioi (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) in the Mexican endemic fish Atherinella alvarezi (Atherinopsidae) from the Atlantic River drainage system in Chiapas, Southern Mexico

Specimens of Spinitectus osorioi Choudhury and Pérez-Ponce de León, an intestinal nematode species previously considered to be specific to Chirostoma spp and endemic to some lakes in the Pacific drainage in Michoacán, were collected from the freshwater fish Atherinella alvarezi (Díaz-Pardo) (Atherinopsidae) of the Michol River near Palenque, Chiapas, Southern Mexico, which belongs to the Atlantic drainage system. Studies using light and scanning electron microscopy revealed some taxonomically important, previously unreported or erroneously reported features of S. osorioi, such as the location of the vulva, the actual number and distribution of postanal papillae and phasmids and the presence of a short median cuticular ridge anterior to the cloacal opening (in addition to two long subventral ridges). The recorded somewhat shorter spicules (420-465 and 105-111 um) and mostly smaller eggs (33-36 x 18-20 um) as compared to the original species description may be due to a different type of host, geographical region or generally smaller body measurements of these specimens. These biometrical differences are considered to be within the limits of the intraspecific variability of S. osorioi. A key to species of Spinitectus parasitizing freshwater fishes in Mexico is provided.

Redescription of Spinitectus tabascoensis (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from fishes of the Lacandon rain forest in Chiapas, southern Mexico, with remarks on Spinitectus macrospinosus and S. osorioi.

Two little-known species of Spinitectus (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) were, for the first time, recorded from fishes of the Lacantún River (Usumacinta River basin) in the Lacandon rain forest, Chiapas, southern Mexico: S. tabascoensis Moravec, Garcia-Magaña et Salgado-Maldonado, 2002 in intestines of Ictalurus furcatus (Valenciennes) (Ictaluridae) (adults and juveniles), Cathorops aguadulce (Meek) and Potamarius nelsoni (Evermann et Goldsborough) (both Ariidae) (in both only juveniles), and S. osorioi Choudhury et Pérez-Ponce de León, 2001 in Atherinella alvarezi (Díaz-Pardo) (Atherinopsidae) (adults in intestine) and Eugerres mexicanus (Steindachner) (Gerreidae) (adults and juveniles in stomach). Eugerres mexicanus, C. aguadulce and P. nelsoni represent new host records. Detailed light and electron microscopical studies of S. tabascoensis revealed some taxonomically important, previously not observed features, such as cuticular spines arranged in four sectors, the cephalic structure, the number (2) of ventral precloacal ridges or the structure of the male caudal end. Therefore, Spinitectus tabascoensis is redescribed. Spinitectus macrospinosus Choudhury et Perryman, 2003, described from ictalurids in Canada and the USA, is considered its junior synonym. Spinitectus tabascoensis seems to be a specific parasite of Ictalurus spp., whereas C. aguadulce and P. nelsoni, as well as some other fishes, serve only as its paratenic hosts. The definitive hosts of S. osorioi are atherinopsid fish (A. alvarezi, Chirostoma spp.), whereas the gerreid E. mexicanus probably serves only as its postcyclic host.