New Antarctic deep-sea weird leech (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae): morphological features and phylogenetic relationships

Systematic Parasitology
Andriy Utevsky, Serge Utevsky

Abstract

A new fish leech Ambulobdella shandikovi n. g., n. sp. (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae), a parasite of Whitson's grenadier Macrourus whitsoni (Regan) (Macrouridae: Gadiformes) collected in the Ross Sea at depths from 1,221 to 1,433 m, is described and compared with related taxa based on morphological and molecular characters. Ambulobdella shandikovi n. sp. is characterised by prominent segmental tubercles on the venter and dorsal segmental tubercles, an uncommon appearance of its anterior sucker with ear-like edges and an inner membrane around the mouth-pore, well-developed musculature and a unique combination of features of the reproductive and digestive systems. The presence of uncommon tubercles can be attributed, in part, to temporary associations of A. shandikovi n. sp. with its fish hosts and a need for well-developed sensory and locomotory organs. A certain locomotory function of ventrolateral tubercles of A. shandikovi n. sp. is hypothesised and discussed. Further deep-sea surveys are obviously needed to shed light on the behaviour and mode of locomotion of this species.

Citations

Oct 27, 2020·International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife·Anna J PhillipsWilliam E Moser

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Datasets Mentioned

BETA
DQ414300
DQ414345
AY336020
EF405541
AY336021
EF405542
EF405594
EF405548

Software Mentioned

MrBayes
MAFFT
MEGA7
ChromasPro
KAKUSAN4

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