Roman Svitin1,2,3, Stephen Bullard4, Haley Dutton4, Edward Netherlands5, Yaroslav Syrota5,6, Olivier Verneau5,7,8, Louis du Preez5,9. 1. African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. romasvit@izan.kiev.ua. 2. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. romasvit@izan.kiev.ua. 3. I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, 15 Bogdan Khmelnytskyi Street, Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine. romasvit@izan.kiev.ua. 4. Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, 203 Swingle Hall, Auburn, AL, USA. 5. African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. 6. I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, 15 Bogdan Khmelnytskyi Street, Kyiv, 01030, Ukraine. 7. Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, University of Perpignan Via Domitia, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France. 8. CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860, Perpignan, France. 9. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Pseudocapillaria (Ichthyocapillaria) bumpi n. sp. (Nematoda: Capillariidae) is described from specimens infecting the digestive tract of the West African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Owen) (Lepidosireniformes: Protopteridae). METHODS: Nematodes were collected in Karingani Game Reserve, Southern Mozambique and studied using light microscopy; obtained sequences of the 18S ribosomal (18S rRNA) gene used for phylogenetic studies. RESULTS: The new species is assigned to Pseudocapillaria Freitas, 1959 by having a stichosome consisting of a single row of stichocytes and ventrolateral lobes on the male tail as well as by lacking spines on the specular sheath, caudal alae, a membranous caudal bursa, and a lateral expansion of the caudal end. It is also assigned to the sub-genus Ichthyocapillaria Moravec, 1982 by having a membrane between the ventrolateral lobes and by lacking a vulvar appendage. Pseudocapillaria (I.) bumpi n. sp. differs from its nominal congeners by having a comparatively large body size with relatively long spicule, bearing the thin membrane non-extending further than ventrolateral lobes in males and relatively smaller eggs without protruding polar plugs. It is the 20th species of the genus, the first from the Afrotropical Realm, and the first from any lungfish species. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that P. (I.) bumpi is deeply nested in a clade that associates species of the genera Pearsonema, Aonchotheca and Baruscapillaria.
INTRODUCTION: Pseudocapillaria (Ichthyocapillaria) bumpi n. sp. (Nematoda: Capillariidae) is described from specimens infecting the digestive tract of the West African lungfish, Protopterus annectens (Owen) (Lepidosireniformes: Protopteridae). METHODS: Nematodes were collected in Karingani Game Reserve, Southern Mozambique and studied using light microscopy; obtained sequences of the 18S ribosomal (18S rRNA) gene used for phylogenetic studies. RESULTS: The new species is assigned to Pseudocapillaria Freitas, 1959 by having a stichosome consisting of a single row of stichocytes and ventrolateral lobes on the male tail as well as by lacking spines on the specular sheath, caudal alae, a membranous caudal bursa, and a lateral expansion of the caudal end. It is also assigned to the sub-genus Ichthyocapillaria Moravec, 1982 by having a membrane between the ventrolateral lobes and by lacking a vulvar appendage. Pseudocapillaria (I.) bumpi n. sp. differs from its nominal congeners by having a comparatively large body size with relatively long spicule, bearing the thin membrane non-extending further than ventrolateral lobes in males and relatively smaller eggs without protruding polar plugs. It is the 20th species of the genus, the first from the Afrotropical Realm, and the first from any lungfish species. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that P. (I.) bumpi is deeply nested in a clade that associates species of the genera Pearsonema, Aonchotheca and Baruscapillaria.