''Pseudorhabdosynochus marcellus'' is a diplectanid monogenean parasitic on the

gill A gill () is a respiratory organ that many aquatic organisms use to extract dissolved oxygen from water and to excrete carbon dioxide. The gills of some species, such as hermit crabs, have adapted to allow respiration on land provided they are ...

s of the malabar grouper, '' Epinephelus malabaricus''. It was described in 2007.PDF of Abstract
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Description

''Pseudorhabdosynochus marcellus'' 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 The haptor is the attachment organ of the monogeneans, a group of parasitic Platyhelminthes. The haptor is sometimes called opisthaptor (from ''opistho-'': behind) to emphasize that it is located in the posterior part of the body, and to differe ...

, which is the organ by which the monogenean attaches itself to the gill of is host. The haptor bears two

squamodisc Squamodiscs are epidermal structures, which are typical of and found only in certain monogeneans of the family Diplectanidae. There are, typically, two squamodiscs, one ventral and one dorsal, located on the haptor of the monogenean. Squamodisc ...

s, 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 In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vestibule to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a thin layer of mucosal tissue called the hymen ...

includes a sclerotized part, which is a complex structure. In this species, the sclerotised vagina has a long primary canal and the primary chamber and secondary chamber are embedded in same distal sclerotised part.

Etymology

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

'', all described from the malabar grouper, '' Epinephelus malabaricus''. 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 ''marcellus'' refers to ''Tonton Marcel'', a character of a locally well-known

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 ...

n comic strip series, ''La Brousse en folie''.

Hosts and localities

The type-host and only recorded host of ''P. marcellus'' is the malabar grouper, '' Epinephelus malabaricus'' (

Serranidae The Serranidae are a large family of fishes belonging to the order Perciformes. The family contains about 450 species in 65 genera, including the sea basses and the groupers (subfamily Epinephelinae). Although many species are small, in some case ...

: Epinephelinae). The type-locality is near

Nouméa Nouméa () is the capital and largest city of the French special collectivity of New Caledonia and is also the largest francophone city in Oceania. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, a ...

where it was considered a very rare species (only 1% of the diplectanids found).

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2855684 Diplectanidae Animals described in 2007 Fauna of New Caledonia