Filisoma filiformis n. sp. (Echinorhynchida: Cavisomidae), a new species of acanthocephala from kyphosus spp. (Perciformes: Kyphosidae) from the south pacific, and a key to the genus filisoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT : We describe a new species of acanthocephalan from the reef fish Kyphosus bigibbus Lacepède, Kyphosus sydneyanus (Günther), and Kyphosus vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimardi) from Heron Island, Queensland; Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia; and Moorea, French Polynesia, respectively. Filisoma filiformis n. sp. is differentiated primarily from other species by its long, slender proboscis, with 16-18 longitudinal rows of 42-48 hooks. The wide distribution and multiple host species of F. filiformis suggest that it could be found in other localities around the Indo-Pacific region where kyphosid fish occur. The differing patterns of host range and geographic distribution within the genus Filisoma are discussed.