A new species of Tormopsolus (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) parasite of Genypterus brasiliensis (Teleostei: Ophidiidae) from the Brazilian coast

Abstract

Tormopsolus brasiliensis sp. nov. is described from the intestine of Genypterus brasiliensis Regan, 1903, from Brazil. The new species is characterized mainly by having an almost square terminal oral sucker, a pharynx of the same size or larger than the oral sucker, and testes very close to each other and without vitelline follicles between them. Tormopsolus brasiliensis sp. nov. is most closely related to T. lintoni Caballero, 1952, sharing with the latter the space between the gonads and the distribution of the vitelline fields. It differs from that species by the lack of a space between the gonads and the absence of vitelline follicles between the testes; by the smaller distance between the oral and ventral suckers; by the presence of a wide ejaculatory duct armed with spines; a wide metraterm, almost the same size of the cirrus-sac; and by the shape and terminal position of the oral sucker. Specimens recovered already dead showed distinct differences to the well-fixed, freshly-collected material and are these differences are enumerated. Acanthocolpus brasiliensis of ALVES et al. (2002a,b) is considered synonym of T. brasiliensis sp. nov