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Issue: Vol. 1514 No. 1: 25 Jun. 2007
Type: Correspondence
Published: 2007-06-25
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1514.1.3
Page range: 61–64
Abstract views: 49
PDF downloaded: 1

Exploiting mimicry: Prosorhynchoides thomasi n. sp. (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from the fang blenny genus Plagiotremus (Bleeker) (Blenniidae) from off Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences and Centre for Marine Studies, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
South Australian Research and Development Institute, GPO Box 397, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia SCurrent address: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Victoria 3030, Australia
Digenea Bucephalidae

Abstract

Prosorhynchoides thomasi n. sp. (Digenea: Bucephalidae) is described from the intestine of the fang blennies, Plagiotremus tapeinosoma and P. rhinorhynchos (Blenniidae: Nemophini) from off Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia.  The new species is differentiated from other species of Prosorhynchoides Dollfus, 1929 that also have testes which are symmetrical or nearly symmetrical by the shape and direction of the caecum and the position of the ovary relative to the caecum.  This is the first report of a new species, but the second report of adult bucephalids from Plagiotremus spp.  Prosorhynchoides thomasi n. sp. likely exploits the habit of Plagiotremus spp. of mimicking cleaner wrasse (Labridae) behaviour and micropredation on ‘client’ fish.  We have not encountered this species from other blennies or from other teleost families known to be infected with bucephalids from the Great Barrier Reef

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