A new gonad-infecting species of Philometra, P. barnesi sp. n. (Nematoda: Philometridae), from the marine fish Pomadasys argenteus (Haemulidae) off the northern coast of Australia

Abstract

A new nematode species, Philometra barnesi sp. n. (Philometridae), is described from the ovary of the marine teleost Pomadasys argenteus (Fosskål) (Haemulidae) off the northern coast of Australia (near Darwin). The new species is characterized by short subequal spicules (84 and 87 μm long), a gubernaculum without a dorsal protuberance at its distal tip, the structure of male anterior and posterior body ends, the body lengths of males (1.67 mm) and gravid females (320–597 mm) and the structure of the oesophagus and caudal end of gravid females. Philometra barnesi is the sixth nominal gonad-infecting species of this genus recorded from marine fishes in Australian waters and the third species of philometrids described from fishes of the family Haemulidae.