Cableia pudica n. sp. (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from monacanthid fishes of the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Abstract

A new species, Cobleia pudica, is described from the monacanthid fishes Contheschenia grandisquamis, Cantherhines dumerili, Cantherhines pardalis and Pervagor janthinosoma from reef waters around Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. It differs from the only other species in the genus, Cableia trigoni Sogandares-Bernal, 1959 in the more elongate cirrus-sac, longer post-testicular region, smaller prepharynx, the less anterior extent of the vitelline fields and dorsalty subterminal excretory pore. The status of the genus is discussed, but no firm conclusion reached. It is placed, pro tern, in the Acanthocolpidae. The great majority of specimens lack spermatozoa, suggesting that parthenogenesis may occur.