The phylogenetic position of the Loimoidae Price, 1936 (Monogenoidea: Monocotylidea) based on analyses of partial rDNA sequences and morphological data.
Phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of 18S and 28S rDNA of some monogenoids, including monocotylids and a specimen of Loimosina sp. collected from a hammerhead shark off Brazil, indicated that the Loimoidae (as represented by the specimen of Loimosina sp.) represents an in-group taxon of the Monocotylidae. In all analyses, the Loimoidae fell within a major monocotylid clade including species of the Heterocotylinae, Decacotylinae, and Monocotylinae. The Loimoidae formed a terminal clade with two heterocotyline species, Troglocephalus rhinobatidis and Neoheterocotyle rhinobatis, for which it represented the sister taxon. The following morphological characters supported the clade comprising the Loimoidae, Heterocotylinae, Decacotylinae and Monocotylinae: single vagina present, presence of a narrow deep anchor root, and presence of a marginal haptoral membrane. The presence of cephalic pits was identified as a putative synapomorphy for the clade (Loimoidae (T. rhinobatidis, N. rhinobatis)). Although rDNA sequence data support the rejection of the Loimoidae and incorporating its species into the Monocotylidae, this action was not recommended pending a full phylogenetic analysis of morphological data.
Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Parasitology, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PR 81531-980, Brazil. Electronic address: wboeger@gmail.com.
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Boeger
Health Education Program, School of Health Professions, Campus Box 8090, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA. Electronic address: kritdela@isu.edu.
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Kritsky
Universidade Federal do Pará, Campus Universitário de Bragança, Instituto de Estudos Costeiros; Alameda Leandro Ribeiro s/n., 68600-000 Bragança, PA, Brazil. Electronic address: mvdomingues71@gmail.com.
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Domingues
Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Parasitology, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PR 81531-980, Brazil.
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Bueno-Silva
D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D006374:Helminthiasis, Animal / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010986:Platyhelminths / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012754:Sharks
D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S
Hammerhead shark; Loimoidae; Loimosina sp.; Monocotylidae; Monogenoidea; Sphyrna sp.