A new genus and species of piscicolid leech in the Platybdellinae inhabits the oral cavity of Dasyatis akajei in the northwestern Pacific Ocean near Tanabe, Japan. The genus Rhopalobdella n. gen. is characterized externally by very small oral and caudal suckers and a smooth body that is widest just posterior to the clitellum. Eyespots and ocelli are lacking. The coelom is spacious with large segmental connecting sinuses between dorsal and ventral sinuses. There are 5 pairs of testisacs, an unusually extensive epididymis, and a very large bursa. Conducting tissue is absent. There are 2 pairs of esophageal diverticula and very well developed nephridia. Rhopalobdella japonica n. gen. n. sp. is characterized by a urosome that tapers strongly to the caudal sucker and by a single gonopore; the common oviduct opens into the posterior portion of the bursa. The coelomic and excretory systems resemble Aestabdella, but in other respects the genera are quite different. This is the first marine leech reported from rays in the northwestern Pacific.
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August 2000
ECTOPARASITOLOGY|
August 01 2000
RHOPALOBDELLA JAPONICA N. GEN., N. SP. (HIRUDINEA, PISCICOLIDAE) FROM DASYATIS AKAJEI (CHONDRICHTHYES: DASYATIDIDAE) IN THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC
Eugene M. Burreson;
Eugene M. Burreson
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062
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Graham C. Kearn
Graham C. Kearn
Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062
*School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom.
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J Parasitol (2000) 86 (4): 696–699.
Citation
Eugene M. Burreson, Graham C. Kearn; RHOPALOBDELLA JAPONICA N. GEN., N. SP. (HIRUDINEA, PISCICOLIDAE) FROM DASYATIS AKAJEI (CHONDRICHTHYES: DASYATIDIDAE) IN THE NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC. J Parasitol 1 August 2000; 86 (4): 696–699. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[0696:RJNGNS]2.0.CO;2
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