Digenetic Trematodes of Marine Fishes from Ghana: Family Monorchiidae

Abstract

This report is the third in a series by the authors on the digenetic trematodes of marine fishes from Ghana, and was supported in part by a State University of New York Faculty Research Fellowship (FRF 68–40–003) awarded to the senior author. Specimens have been deposited in the U.S. National Museum Helminthological Collection as indicated. All measurements are in microns.

The Lepocreadiidae (Digenea) of fishes of the north-east Atlantic: review of the genera Opechona Looss, 1907 and Prodistomum Linton, 1910

“…The pseudoesophagus is long in this specimen : Fischthal (1980) described the 'oesophagus' as 'entire length celllined'. Fischthal & Thomas, 1970 is based on a single contracted specimen whose excretory vesicle reaches almost to the pharynx, and in which the pseudoesophagus is not described. Examination of this specimen (USNM 70765) has revealed a short pseudoesophagus.…”

“…Clavogalea trachinoti (Fischthal & Thomas, 1968) n. comb. (Figs 9, 10) Synonyms: Stephanostomum trachinoti Fischthal & Thomas, 1968;Opechona pseudobacillaris Fischthal & Thomas, 1970 (new synonymy (Fig, 9) and Opechona pseudobacillaris (USNM 70777) (Fig.…”

“…(Figs 9, 10) Synonyms: Stephanostomum trachinoti Fischthal & Thomas, 1968;Opechona pseudobacillaris Fischthal & Thomas, 1970 (new synonymy (Fig, 9) and Opechona pseudobacillaris (USNM 70777) (Fig. 10), ant] can find no reason for considering these forms distinct.…”

“…Both clearly possess a long pseudoesophagus, which serves to distinguish this species from C. gaevskayae. Fischthal & Thomas (1968) described a uroproct, but this was not clearly seen in whole-mounts and needs confirmation in sections. C. gaevskayae has a uroproct.…”

“…These specimens exhibit all the differentiating characters enumerated by Thomas (1960). Fischthal & Thomas (1970) described a pseudoesophagus. We were unable to detect it in the paratypes, both of which present a lateral view of the forebody.…”