Three species of Isorchis Durio and Manter, 1969 are described from Australian waters. Isorchis megas sp. nov. is described from the spotbanded scat, Selenotoca multifasciata (Richardson), off Western Australia (WA) and Northern Territory (NT); Isorchis currani sp. nov. is described from S. multifasciata off NT; and Isorchis anomalus sp. nov. is described from the milkfish, Chanos chanos Forsskål, off WA. Isorchis megas sp. nov. can be differentiated from the other species of Isorchis by possessing a single, large egg that is greater than 20% of the body length; having a shorter body (the largest specimen is less than 500 μm); and utilizing a scatophagid rather than a chanid host. Isorchis currani sp. nov. can be differentiated from species of Isorchis other than I. megas sp. nov. by utilizing a scatophagid rather than a chanid host; it is differentiated from I. megas sp. nov. in having eggs that are 11-15% of the body length. Isorchis anomalus sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Isorchis in possessing an irregular shaped genital pore rather than one that is circular to oblong. A Bayesian inference analysis of partial 28S rDNA sequences of the three new species of Isorchis and 30 other haploporoids revealed 1) the monophyly of the Atractotrematidae Yamaguti, 1939, 2) the two species of Isorchis infecting S. multifasciata were each other's closest relative, and 3) that Isorchis was most closely related to Pseudomegasolena Machida and Komiya, 1976 rather than Atractotrema Goto and Ozaki, 1929 although sequence data are not yet available for a member of Pseudisorchis Ahmad, 1985.
1 January 2018 in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
Species of Argulus (Branchiura Thorell, 1864) are common ectoparasites of freshwater, estuarine, and marine fishes. Argulid identification and taxonomy is often confusing because many species are reported to parasitize multiple host species, have similar morphological characters, and come from various salinity regimes. Gulf sturgeon is an anadromous fish natal to drainages in the north-central Gulf of Mexico, and as with many endangered species, has a poorly documented parasite community. During Gulf sturgeon tagging and monitoring studies (2016–2019) in the Pascagoula River, MS, USA, species of Argulus were collected from Gulf sturgeon as well as other incidentally captured fishes. Argulus flavescens Wilson, 1916 was found on Gulf sturgeon and flathead catfish, Argulus americanus Wilson, 1902 on bowfin, and Argulus bicolor Bere, 1936 on Atlantic stingray. We provide morphological details and measurements for these species as well as the first confirmed 28S rDNA molecular data. Argulus flavescens was more abundant and prevalent on larger Gulf sturgeon and on sturgeon captured in freshwater rather than estuarine habitats. Our results indicate that A. flacescens may not tolerate estuarine salinities and that the anadromous life-history pattern of Gulf sturgeon could help rid them of A. flavescens when they emigrate from their riverine habitats.