Pseudopecoelus sosoae sp. nov. and P. sewelli (Digenea, Opecoelidae) from the deep-sea fish Neoscombrops pacificus (Perciformes, Acropomatidae) off New Caledonia

Abstract

Pseudopecoelus sosoae sp. nov. and P. sewelli Bray, 1990 are described from the rare fish Neoscombrops pacificus from the deep-sea (about 200-400 m) off Nouméa, New Caledonia, the southernmost report of this fish species. A visual key based on 12 characters is presented, which shows that P. sosoae is distinguished from the most similar species (P. vulgaris, P. elongatus, P. priacanthi, P. akamachi and P. sphyraenae) by its very large eggs, elongate body and unlobed gonads. P. sewelli has a similar shape, but much smaller eggs and lobed gonads. © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.