Acta Parasitologica
March 2014, Volume 59, Issue 1, pp 91-97
A new species of Unilatus (Platyhelminthes: Monogenoidea) from the gills of Leporacanthicus galaxias Isbrücker et Nijssen (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from Brazil
Bárbara Branches, Marcus V. Domingues
Abstract
Unilatus irae sp. nov. (Dactylogyridae) is described from the gills of the armored catfish, Leporacanthicus galaxias Isbrücker et Nijssen (Loricariidae: Ancistrinae), from Guamá river, Pará State, Brazil. The new species can be differentiated from its cogeneners by the combination of the following features: anterior anchor with well-developed superficial root, inconspicuous deep root, shaft bent at midpoint, forming angle of approximately 60°, evenly short curved point; posterior anchor with inconspicuous roots, sclerotized cap of base with small protuberance for articulation to posterior bar; evenly curved shaft and short point; anterior bar broadly V-shaped, with small posteromedial projection; and posterior bar anteriorly expanded on it midportion, with expanded ends slightly curved in posterior direction.
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I don't know if there are lots of such descriptions (I certainly wouldn't want the forum peppered with such descriptions), but this might hold at least passing interest for those specialized in this genus (of catfish). As such, I think it's worth keeping albeit with an amended title?
A Google Scholar search for "parasites" and "Siluriformes" gives 85 results over the last year, so this area of research is not insignificant. In any case, a study on the biology of the parasite would be more relevant to an aquarist than a study on its taxonomy.
