''Pseudorhabdosynochus manipulus'' is a diplectanid monogenean parasitic on the gills of the malabar grouper, ''

Epinephelus malabaricus ''Epinephelus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, groupers from the subfamily Epinephelinae, part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. They are predatory fish, largely associated with reefs and are found i ...

''. It was first described in 2007.PDF of Abstract
/ref>

Description

''Pseudorhabdosynochus manipulus'' is a small monogenean, 0.6 mm in length. The species has the general characteristics of other species of ''

Pseudorhabdosynochus ''Pseudorhabdosynochus'' is a genus of monopisthocotylean monogeneans, included in the family Diplectanidae. The type-species of the genus is ''Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli'' ( Yamaguti, 1938). The genus includes more than 80 species, which a ...

'', with a flat body and a posterior haptor, which is the organ by which the monogenean attaches itself to the gill of is host. The haptor bears two squamodiscs, one ventral and one dorsal. The sclerotized male copulatory organ, or "quadriloculate organ", has the shape of a bean with four internal chambers, as in other species of ''

''.Kritsky, D. C. & Beverley-Burton, M. 1986: The status of ''Pseudorhabdosynochus'' Yamaguti, 1958, and ''Cycloplectanum'' Oliver, 1968 (Monogenea: Diplectanidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 99, 17-20
PDF
The vagina includes a sclerotized part, which is a complex structure. In this species, the sclerotised vagina has a cylindrical primary canal and the primary and secondary chambers are both elongate.

Etymology

''Pseudorhabdosynochus manipulus'' is part of a series of six species of ''

'', all described from the malabar grouper, ''

''. The authors indicated that "names of all new species described begin all by ''‘ma-’'' to provide an easy way to identify these species from ''E. malabaricus'' among the numerous species of ''Pseudorhabdosynochus'' already described or to be described". The species are '' P. maaensis'', '' P. malabaricus'', '' P. manifestus'', ''P. manipulus'', '' P. marcellus'', and ''P. maternus''. More precisely, for this species, the name ''‘manipulus’'' (Latin), meaning handful, refers to the small number of specimens found.

Hosts and localities

The type-host and only recorded host of ''P. manipulus'' is the malabar grouper, ''

'' ( Serranidae: Epinephelinae). The type-locality and only recorded locality is off Nouméa,

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

where it was considered a rare species, with only 5% of the specimens collected.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1857204 Diplectanidae Animals described in 2007 Platyhelminthes of New Caledonia