Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. from the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira, Chelidae) in Australia

Abstract

Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. (Digenea, Choanocotylidae) is described from the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira, Chelidae) from the Daly and Mary Rivers, Northern Territory, Australia. This is the fifth known member of Choanocotyle. Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. differs from Choanocotyle nematoides Jue Sue et Platt, 1998 and Choanocotyle hobbsi Platt et Tkach, 2003 by smaller body length, larger oral sucker, relatively greater distance between testes, and prepharynx with an infolded posterior region. In addition the new species does not have the looped cirrus sac characteristic of Choanocotyle nematoides. Comparison of sequences of 18S, ITS (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and partial 28S regions of nuclear rDNA among all 3 species strongly supports the status of Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. as a new species. © 2007 W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology, PAS.