''Pseudorhabdosynochus woodi'' 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 red hind, ''

Epinephelus guttatus The red hind (''Epinephelus guttatus''), also known as the koon or lucky grouper in Caribbean vernacular, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includ ...

''. It has been described by

Kritsky ''Kritsky'' is a genus of digeneans in the family Aporocotylidae or blood flukes.WoRMS (2018). Kritsky Orelis-Ribeiro & Bullard, 2016. Accessed at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=871002 on 2018-09-23 The name of the genus ...

, Bakenhaster and Adams in 2015.

Description

''Pseudorhabdosynochus woodi'' is a small monogenean, 0.4 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. Squamodiscs ...

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
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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.

Etymology

According to

, Bakenhaster & Adams (2015), ''Pseudorhabdosynochus woodi'' was named for Dr. Raymond A. Wood, co-discoverer of the species on red hind in

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

Diagnosis

, Bakenhaster & Adams (2015) wrote that ''Pseudorhabdosynochus woodi'' differs from '' Pseudorhabdosynochus mizellei'' by possessing an ovate chamber in the vaginal sclerite (versus two chambers of ''P. mizellei'' small and lacking a definitive shape). It most closely resembles '' P. justinella'' and '' P. bunkleywilliamsae'' by possessing a short robust ventral bar and a vaginal sclerite having a sigmoid distal tube. The chamber of the vaginal sclerite is small and ovate in ''P. woodi'' (larger and subspherical in ''P. justinella'' and ''P. bunkleywilliamsae'').

Hosts and localities

The type-host and only recorded host of ''P. bunkleywilliamsae'' is the red hind, ''

'' (

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 and only recorded locality is off Castle Roads,

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q22285161 Diplectanidae Animals described in 2015 Fauna of Bermuda