Pseudoallencotyla gen. n., a new genus for Allencotyla pricei (Kritsky, Noble et Moser, 1978) (Monogenea: Heteraxinidae), with a key to genera of Heteraxininae.
In this study, we clarify the taxonomic status of Allencotyla pricei based on a re-examination of paratypes and voucher specimens. Four important characters are added to previous descriptions: the vagina is ventral; the cirrus is absent; the eggs are fusiform and have two polar filaments (one about 3.5 times longer than the other); and, there are two flat sclerites at each side of the dorsal trident-shaped sclerite in the clamps. A comparison of A. pricei with species from all the genera of the Heteraxininae, including Allencotyla mcintoshi, indicates that A. pricei has several exclusive characters, i.e., a ventral vagina, vaginal armature, two additional dorsal sclerites in the clamps, a ventral mouth, and a question mark-shaped ovary. The combination of characters found in A. pricei is not shared with any other species within the Heteraxininae. In view of these features, A. pricei is assigned to a new genus, Pseudoallencotyla gen. n., as P. pricei comb. n.
Departamento de Zoología, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universitat de València, P.O. Box 22085, Valencia 46071, Spain. Francisco.E.Montero@uv.es
Francisco E
FE
Montero
F Javier
FJ
Aznar
Mercedes
M
Fernández
Juan A
JA
Raga
D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D014200:Trematoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*