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A new monogenean, Rhamnocercoides lambayequensis n. sp. (Dactylogyridea: Diplectanidae), is described based on the specimens collected from the gills of the Pacific kingcroaker Menticirrhus elongatus (Gunther 1864) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), a demersal fish endemic to Eastern Pacific, captured off the South American Pacific coast, Lambayeque Region, Peru. Monogeneans were fixed in hot 4% formalin. Some monogeneans were transferred directly onto a slide in a drop of glycerin–ammonium picrate mixture (GAP). Others were mounted stained with Gomori’s trichrome in Canada balsam. Drawings were made using of a drawing tube. The new species is mainly characterized by its MCO, which is tubular and straight, with external (distally expanded and bifurcated) and internal tubes (distally uncovered by external tube). Rhamnocercoides lambayequensis n. sp. is also characterized by having the following features: a weakly sclerotized almost pyriform vagina; haptoral acicular spines with expanded distal portion and by having a small group of haptoral accessory spines associated with haptoral lobes arranged as spikes. This is the first data on the parasites of M. elongatus, a little known, but popular fish in local markets. The present finding brings to two, the number of known species of Rhamnocercoides Luque and Iannacone 1991, and represents the sixth described marine diplectanid species infecting sciaenid fishes from Peru.

Pronotogrammella n. g. is erected to accommodate Pronotogrammella boegeri n. sp. (type-species), Pr. scholzi n. sp. and Pr. multifasciatus n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae). The new species are gill parasites of the threadfin bass Pronotogrammus multifasciatus Gill (Perciformes: Serranidae), a demersal teleost collected from off the coastal zone of Puerto Pizarro, Tumbes, Peru. Pronotogrammella n. g. is mainly characterised by having broadly fork-shaped dorsal anchors, which have an accessory anchor sclerite articulated to the tip of the superficial roots. Pronotogrammella n. g. is also characterised by having: (i) a tubular tapered-shaped male copulatory organ (MCO), filamentous distally, with a clockwise coil at distal end or not, lacking accessory piece; (ii) a dorsal bar with an anteromedial delicate umbelliform membrane supported by two processes; (iii) hooks with upright blunt thumb and uniform shank; (iv) a vaginal aperture dextrolateral; (v) a subquadrangular haptor, with inconspicuous lateral flaps and lacking haptoral reservoirs; and (vi) eye-spot or chromatic granules absent. Pronotogrammella boegeri n. sp. is characterised by its crosier-shaped MCO having a clockwise coil at distal end and by its dorsal bar with a straight anteromedial processes. Pronotogrammella scholzi n. sp. is typified by possessing of a dorsal bar with the anteromedial processes like cow horns, hoof-shaped deep roots of the dorsal anchors and a broader shaft of the MCO. Pronotogrammella multifasciatus n. sp. differs from all congeners by having a tubular MCO with twisted shaft and a base with a short and broad arm and by having an almost dumbbell-shaped ventral bar.

A parasitological survey searching diplectanids (Monogenea: Diplecatnidae) infesting the gills of marine fishes from South America was carried out during the 2019-2020 period. The gills of four sciaenid species, 2 Cheilotrema fasciatum Tschudi, 1 smalleye croaker Nebris microps Cuvier, 2 royal highhat Pareques lanfeari (Barton), and 1 minor stardrum Stellifer minor (Tschudi), were sampled. Six new species of Rhamnocercus Monaco, WoodMizelle, 1954 were described: Rhamnocercus chacllae n. sp. and Rhamnocercus chaskae n. sp. from P. lanfeari, Rhamnocercus fasciatus n. sp. from C. fasciatum, Rhamnocercus microps n. sp. from N. microps, and Rhamnocercus rimaci n. sp. and Rhamnocercus tantaleani n. sp. from S. minor. Rhamnocercus chacllae n. sp. can be differentiated from its congeners by its L-shaped male copulatory organ (MCO) and by having an anteromedial slight notch at ventral bar. Rhamnocercus chaskae n. sp. differs from the other species of the genus by its long and straight MCO with bifid distal end and by having haptoral accessory spines at level of ventral bar with quadrifid distal portion. Rhamnocercus fasciatus n. sp. is characterized by possessing a straight and long MCO with truncated distal end, haptoral accessory spines at level of ventral bar with bifid distal portion, dorsal bars with a knob at lateral extremity, and a large vagina with bell-shaped. Rhamnocercus microps n. sp. differs from all congeners mainly by having a short and straight MCO with the distal end of internal tube spatulate and uncovered by external tube. Rhamnocercus rimaci n. sp. is can be distinguished from all other species of Rhamnocercus by having an almost J-shaped MCO with the distal end of external tube slight expanded and the distal end of internal tube narrow and uncovered by external tube. Rhamnocercus tantaleani n. sp. is mainly characterized by its MCO, which is tubular and straight, having the distal end of external tube bifurcated (right branch well-expanded and left branch narrow) and the distal end of internal tube enveloped by left branch of the external tube. This is the first data on the parasites of P. lanfeari, a little known, but popular fish in local markets from Peru. Rhamnocercus microps n. sp. is the first described species of Rhamnocercus in Brazil. The present finding brings to 12, the number of known species of Rhamnocercus. A key to Rhamnocercus species is provided.

Specimens of Rhinobatonchocotyle pacifica Oliva & Luque, 1995 (Hexabothriidae) were collected from the gill filaments of Pacific guitarfish, Pseudobatos planiceps (Garman, 1880) (Rhinopristiformes: Rhinobatidae), from off the coast of Chorrillos, Lima, Peru. Since the original description of R. pacifica was incomplete, we herein redescribe R. pacifica based on re-examination of the holotype, paratypes, and newly collected voucher specimens. Nucleotide sequences (18S, 28S) for R. pacifica are presented for the first time, and a phylogenetic analysis conducted. Monogeneans were examined with light microscopy and partial sequences of 18S and 28S rDNA genes were obtained. The following taxonomically important morphological features are described: presence of seminal receptacle, spiniform papillae within oral cavity, haptoral sucker sclerites and anchors, hook surface striations, muscular pad associated with each haptoral sucker sclerite (except sclerite 1), muscular bulbs in appendix suckers, and ootype lacking longitudinal rows of large cells (ootype not cotele). The genital complex is detailed. The diagnosis of Rhinobatonchocotyle is emended to include species with or without seminal receptacle. Representative nucleotide sequences of partial 18S and 28S rDNA genes of R. pacifica were obtained for the first time and used for reconstructing the phylogeny of Hexabothriidae. The phylogenetic reconstruction confirmed the species within the Hexabothriidae.

A new monogenean, Rhamnocercoides lambayequensis n. sp. (Dactylogyridea: Diplectanidae), is described based on the specimens collected from the gills of the Pacific kingcroaker Menticirrhus elongatus (Günther 1864) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), a demersal fish endemic to Eastern Pacific, captured off the South American Pacific coast, Lambayeque Region, Peru.Monogeneans were fixed in hot 4% formalin. Some monogeneans were transferred directly onto a slide in a drop of glycerin-ammonium picrate mixture (GAP). Others were mounted stained with Gomori's trichrome in Canada balsam. Drawings were made using of a drawing tube.The new species is mainly characterized by its MCO, which is tubular and straight, with external (distally expanded and bifurcated) and internal tubes (distally uncovered by external tube). Rhamnocercoides lambayequensis n. sp. is also characterized by having the following features: a weakly sclerotized almost pyriform vagina; haptoral acicular spines with expanded distal portion and by having a small group of haptoral accessory spines associated with haptoral lobes arranged as spikes.This is the first data on the parasites of M. elongatus, a little known, but popular fish in local markets. The present finding brings to two, the number of known species of Rhamnocercoides Luque and Iannacone 1991, and represents the sixth described marine diplectanid species infecting sciaenid fishes from Peru.

Bicentenariella n. g. is proposed to accommodate three new species of dactylogyrid monogeneans found on the gills of the threadfin bass Pronotogrammus multifasciatus Gill (Perciformes: Serranidae) from the Southeastern Pacific Ocean off Peru: Bicentenariella claudiae n. sp. (type-species), B. sinuosa n. sp. and B. puertopizarroensis n. sp. Bicentenariella n. g. is mainly characterised by possessing a broadly X-shaped dorsal bar, which has the anterior arms longer than posterior ones and by having a ventral bar with two medial projections. Bicentenariella n. g. is also characterised by having: (i) anchors equal, each with elongate superficial root and short deep root; (ii) an haptor with bilaterally paired lobes, lacking haptoral reservoirs; (iii) hooks with protruded obtuse thumb and undilated shank; (iv) a tubular tapered-shaped male copulatory organ with basal flap bifurcated or not (MCO), lacking accessory piece; (v) a delicate membrane associated with the shaft of the MCO present or absent; (vi) a muscular trumpet-shaped vagina, vaginal aperture dextrolateral; (vii) eyespots absent, accessory chromatic granules present; and (viii) a not lobulated testis. Bicentenariella claudiae n. sp. is characterised by having a MCO with whip-shaped distal end and a rod-shaped ventral bar with hatchet-shaped lateral ends. Bicentenariella sinuosa n. sp. is typified by possessing a MCO with an irregular filamentous membrane surrounding its shaft and a dumbbell-shaped ventral bar. Bicentenariella puertopizarroensis n. sp. can be differentiated from its congeners by having a tubular-shaped MCO with twisted distal end and a narrow W-shaped ventral bar. Parancylodiscoides peruensis Cruces, Chero, SáezLuque, 2017 from Hemanthias peruanus (Steindachner) and P. signiferi Cruces, Chero, SáezLuque, 2017 from H. signifer (Garman), are transferred to Bicentenariella n. g. as B. peruensis n. comb and B. signiferi n. comb., respectively.

A new species of Loimopapillosum Hargis, 1955 is described based on specimens collected from the gills of the diamond stingray, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) captured off Puerto Pizarro, Tumbes Region, northern Peru. Loimopapillosum pascuali n. sp. is distinguished mainly from the type and only species, Loimopapillosum dasyatis Hargis, 1955, by its funnel-shaped male copulatory organ, with an asymmetrical base; the superficial root of the anchor with distal knobs; the deep root of the anchor with a constriction at its base; a single testis; and the number of head organs. Available sequences for members of Monocotylidae in the GenBank as well as partial sequences for the gene 28S and 18S ribosomal DNA from L. pascuali n. sp. were included in phylogenetic analyses, suggesting that Loimoinae (represented in this study by L. pascuali n. sp. and Loimosina sp.) is nested within the Monocotylidae Taschenberg, 1879. Therefore, we confirm the rejection of Loimoidae Price, 1936 and its reincorporation as a subfamily of Monocotylidae, as previously suggested. Loimopapillosum pascuali n. sp. represents the first species of this genus in South America.

Ciento dieciocho especímenes de peces bentopelágicos de la zona costera de la región del Callao, Perú, fueron sometidas a una autopsia de mayo de 2015 a enero de 2016 para estudiar su comunidad de parásitos metazoos: 38 especímenes de Cheilodactylus variegatus Valenciennes, 1833 (Cheilodactylidae), 66 de Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mugilidae) y 14 de Paralabrax humeralis (Valenciennes, 1828) (Serranidae). Diecinueve taxones de metazoos parásitos fueron recolectados: 10 en Ch. variegatus, 4 en M. cephalus y 7 en P. humeralis. Solo Cheilodactylus variegatus es un nuevo registro de huésped para 7 especies. Cuatro especies de parásitos son nuevos registros geográficos. Los digeneos fueron la mayoría de los especímenes de parásitos recolectados (37,85%) en Ch. variegatus. En M. cephalus, la mayoría de las muestras de parásitos recolectadas fueron copépodos y monogeneos con 77,78% de los individuos recolectados. Se encontraron cinco estadios larvarios. Los parásitos de tres especies hospedadoras mostraron el patrón típico de distribución agregada observado en muchas comunidades de parásitos metazoos de peces marinos del Perú. En M. cephalus, la longitud total se correlacionó con la prevalencia de 2 especies de parásitos. Ch. variegatus y P. humeralis, no se observó relación entre la prevalencia y la abundancia versus la longitud y el sexo del huésped.

During a research on gill ectoparasites of Peruvian marine fishes, four dactylogyrid (Monogenea) species, parasitising two teleost species, Bodianus diplotaenia (Gill) (Labridae) and Calamus brachysomus (Lockington) (Sparidae), were found. Euryhaliotrema luisae n. sp. ex C. brachysomus is differentiated from other congeneric species by the morphology of the male copulatory organ, which comprises a coil of nine counterclockwise rings, and by the morphology of the anchors and bars. Euryhaliotrema magnopharyngis n. sp. ex C. brachysomus can be distinguished from all other congeners by having a well-developed pharynx occupying much of the anterior region and by the ventral bar, which is V-shaped, with well-elongated, thin arms. In addition, E. luisae n. sp. and E. magnopharyngis n. sp. can be differentiated from all other members of Euryhaliotrema Kritsky & Boeger, 2002 by the presence of a glandular oval plate lying on peduncle. Haliotrema diplotaenia n. sp. ex B. diplotaenia is characterised by the structure of the male copulatory organ, comprising a tapered-shaped cirrus tube with twisted acute tip and a filament-shaped accessory piece with medial and distal expansions, and by the morphology of the ventral bar (inverted W-shaped, with short lateral ends and two anterior conical protuberances). Haliotrema saezae n. sp. ex B. diplotaenia differs from all other members of Haliotrema Johnston & Tiegs, 1922 by having a tubular copulatory organ with curved distal tip and a filament-shaped accessory piece without lateral expansions, and by the morphology of anchors and bars. The present findings are added to the other six marine dactylogyrids previously reported from Peru.

A new monogenean, Heterocotyle margaritae n. sp. (Monocotylidae: Heterocotylinae), is described based on specimens collected from the gills of the diamond stingray, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae) captured off the South Pacific coast, Lima Region, Peru. Monogeneans were fixed in hot 4% formalin, observed and measured as permanent mounts stained with Gomori’s trichrome, and mounted in Canada balsam. Drawings were made with the aid of a drawing tube. The new species is distinguished from all congeners mainly by having a funnel-shaped male copulatory organ, spatulate distally with lateral folds and by its club-shaped accessory piece. The most similar congener, H. americana Hargis, 1955, resemble H. margaritae n. sp. regarding the general structure of the male copulatory organ (funnel-shaped with an accessory piece). However, besides other features, the new species differ from H. americana by having an accessory piece without a dorsal button (vs an accessory piece with a dorsal button in H. americana). This is the first report of a member of Heterocotyle Scott, 1904 in the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. The present finding brings to 20 the number of known species of Heterocotyle, and represents the fifth described monogenean species from Hypanus dipterurus.

Peruanocotyle n. gen. is proposed to accommodate Peruanocotyle chisholmae n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae). The new species is a gill parasite of the diamond stingray, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan & Gilbert) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), a demersal chondrichthyan collected off the coast of Callao, Peru. Peruanocotyle n. gen. is placed in the Dasybatotreminae Bychowsky, 1957 because its anterior attachment organ has multiple glandular openings. Peruanocotyle chisholmae n. gen., n. sp. is unique among the Dasybatotreminae, by having: a well-developed, broadly ovoid anterior attachment organ with numerous grooves and an anteromedial notch; three prominent anterior glands that are connected to numerous peripheral glands; an unusual whip-shaped male copulatory organ composed of four connate tubes; an ejaculatory duct with slightly sclerotized walls where the proximal end has criss-crossed creases and the distal portion is highly convoluted; an ejaculatory bulb with one bipartite internal seminal vesicle; a wheel-shaped haptor with one central loculus and eight peripheral loculi; anchors that are much shorter than the width of marginal membrane and have an accessory sclerotized piece present; four oval testes, arranged in two groups; an ovary that has six clavate, proximal lobules and a distal portion that is strongly coiled; intestinal ceca with large lateral and medial diverticula; an oral opening surrounded by numerous small dome-like papillae; and a single vagina with sclerotized walls. Dasybatotreminae is amended to accommodate the new genus, and the new species is fully described and illustrated herein. The present finding adds to the other three marine monocotylids previously reported from Peru, namely Anoplocotyloides chorrillensis Luque & Iannacone, 1991; Anoplocotyloides papillatus (Doran, 1953) Young, 1967 and Monocotyle luquei Chero, Cruces, Iannacone, Sanchez, Minaya, Sáez & Alvariño, 2016.

A new genus and species of monogenean belonging to Hexabothriidae, Hypanocotyle bullardi n. gen. n. sp., is described based on specimens collected from the gill filaments of the diamond stingray, Hypanus dipterurus (Jordan et Gilbert) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), a demersal chondrichthyan collected off the coast of Callao, Peru. Hypanocotyle n. gen. has the following combination of diagnostic features that differentiate it from other hexabothriid genera: haptor symmetrical; vasa efferentia having proximal (narrow, with thin glandular wall) and distal (expanded, interlaced, with thick glandular wall) portions, joining medially to form vas deferens; vas deferens having proximal (expanded, sinuous, with thick glandular wall) and distal (narrow, strongly sinuous, with thin glandular wall) portions; male copulatory organ unarmed, proximal portion slightly sinuous and tube-like, distal portion funnel-shaped; prostatic glands present, distributed around of the MCO; seminal receptacle present; ootype lacking longitudinal rows of large cells (no ootype cotele); vaginae parallel, with well-differentiated proximal (glandular, narrow, tube-like, slightly sinuous) and distal (musculoglandular, convoluted) portions; gland cells surrounding the vaginal duct along the entire length of distal portion, densely clustered in middle portion; uterine eggs with 2 elongate filaments. Phylogenetic reconstructions by maximum-likelihood method, based on newly obtained partial 18S and 28S sequences, shows that H. bullardi n. gen. is included within the family Hexabothriidae, order Diclybothriidea. This is the second hexabothriid genus recorded from a diamond stingray (Dasyatidae), and the fourth hexabothriid species recorded from Peru. A key to hexabothriid genera is provided.