A new species of skin-parasitic benedeniine monogenean with a preference for the pelvic fins of its host, Lutjanus carponotatus (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

Benedenia lutjani sp. nov. is described from the body surfaces and fins of the marine teleost, Lutjanus carponotatus (Richardson 1842) from Heron Island and Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. The vaginal pore of the parasite opens on the dorsal surface anterior to the common genital aperture. There is a pair of lobes associated with the common genital aperture and a single lobe close to the vaginal opening. The diagnoses of the following taxa are amended: Benedeniinae and Benedenia. This is the first record of a species of Benedenia from the Lutjanidae. The oncomiracidium of B. lutjani is described. Evidence from freshly caught fishes and from a heavily infected aquarium-held host indicates that adult specimens of B. lutjani have a preference for the pelvic fins of L. carponotatus.

Keywords :

• Monogenea
• Capsalidae
• Benedeniinae
• Benedenia
• taxonomy
• oncomiracidium
• parasite distribution
• fins
• Australia