Kannaphallus leptosomus n. sp. (Monogenea: Heteraxinidae: Cemocotylinae) parasitizing Scyris indica (Carangiformes: Carangidae) from Malaysia.

ABSTRACT

A new monogenean species, Kannaphallus leptosomus n. sp., from the gills of the diamond trevally, Scyris indica Rüppell, caught off Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia is described with molecular data. The new species differs from other species of the genus by the morphology of the largest clamp, the presence of a penis gun-associated needle, the unarmed genital atrium size, and the presence of two independent vaginal tubes. Previous records of Kannaphallus species were compiled, and four nominal species including one species incertae sedis (K. virilis Unnithan, 1957; K. lateriporis Mamaev, 1988; K. leptosomus n. sp.; and K. mochimae Fuentes Zambrano, 1998 incertae sedis) and two undescribed species recorded as invalid names were listed. Cemocotylelloides carangis Ramalingam, 1969 was considered a junior objective synonym of K. univaginalis Ramalingam, 1960; this species was treated as Cemocotylelloides univaginalis n. comb. In addition, Unnithan's materials including type specimens of K. virilis could not be found in specimen repositories in India, and it appears that the specimens were probably not deposited in any institution or have been subsequently lost. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA sequences, Heteraxinidae was broadly divided into two clades, and Heteraxininae and Cemocotylinae were shown as polyphyletic groups, respectively.