Two new species of Myxobolus (Myxozoa:Myxosporea:Bivalvulida) from freshwater fishes of Punjab wetlands (India).

During the present study two new species were collected from mucous membrane around gill lamellae of Puntius sophore (Ham.) vern. chittal and Cirrhina mrigala (Ham.) vern. mrigal from Harike Wetland, Punjab respectively. Spore of the first species i.e. Myxobolus chittalii are histozoic, pear shaped with characteristic nipple-like anterior end and rounded posterior end. They measure 9.0 × 6.18 μm. Polar capsules are two, equal, measuring 4.5 × 2.4 μm, pyriform with bluntly pointed anterior end and rounded posterior end. They are placed posteriorly from the tip of the spore and are parallel to each other in the spore body cavity. A prominent, tongue shaped intercapsular process is present. Spores of the second species i.e. M. mehlhorni are histozoic, oval to egg in shape having narrow, blunt anterior end and broad rounded posterior end, measure 8.9 × 6.8 μm. Shell valves smooth, symmetrically thin, measure 0.5 μm in thickness. Parietal folds are absent. Polar capsules two, prominently unequal, placed anteriorly and converge towards the anterior end. Both polar capsules are flask-shaped with anterior end having a prominent neck. The larger polar capsule measure 3.7 × 2.5 μm occupying less than half while the smaller one measure 2.6 × 1.5 μm and occupy less than one-third of the spore body cavity. An intercapsular process is absent.