Microcotyle justinei n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) from the Gills of the Cardinal Fish Apogon imberbis (Teleostei: Apogonidae) off the Algerian Coast of the Western Mediterranean.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: A new monogenean Microcotyle justinei n. sp. (Monogenea Microcotylidae) is described based on specimens found on the gill filaments of the cardinal fish Apogon imberbis (Apogonidae) off the Algerian coast of the Western Mediterranean. METHODS: Monogeneans were examined, measured and drawn for a comparative morphological study with other species of Microcotyle and characterised molecularly using a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The identification of fish was confirmed by molecular barcoding using the cox1 gene. RESULTS: The new species is distinguished from all other species of the genus by a combination of features, such as the number and size of the clamps, the shape and size of the genital atrium and the number of testes. The molecular analysis of the cox1 gene sequences showed that interspecific differences between Microcotyle justinei n. sp. and published sequences of Microcotyle spp. was greater than 8.8%, strongly suggesting that the new species is distinct from other congeners with sequences available on GenBank. CONCLUSION: The morphological and molecular analyses support the status of M. justinei as a new species. The present finding extends the list of Microcotyle spp. to 72.