''Microcotyle algeriensis'' is a species of monogenean, parasitic on the gills of a marine fish. It belongs to the family Microcotylidae.

Systematics

''Microcotyle algeriensis'' was described Ayadi ''et al''., in 2017, from the gills of the small red scorpionfish '' Scorpaena notata'' (

Scorpaenidae The Scorpaenidae (also known as scorpionfish) are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venom ...

) collected at Bouharoune off the Algerian coast. In the same paper, Ayadi ''et al''., (2017) collected another species of ''Microcotyle'' from the gills of ''Helicolenus dactylopterus'', that differes from ''M. algeriensis'' by morphology and COI sequence; and from ''M. sebastis'' by COI sequence. However, the authors refrained from describing ''Microcotyle'' sp. from ''Helicolenus dactylopterus'' as new because ''M. sebastis'' (originally described from scorpaeniform fishes off Japan) has been recorded in various hosts in the North and South Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean (for the latter, in the same host, ''H. dactylopterus''). Thus, Ayadi ''et al''., (2017) suggested that a correct specific identification of ''Microcotyle'' spp from scorpaeniform fishes must relay on a detailed morphological and molecular study of specimens from different locations and hosts.

Description

''Microcotyle algeriensis'' has the general morphology of all species of ''

Microcotyle ''Microcotyle'' is a genus which belongs to the phylum Platyhelminthes and class Monogenea. Species of ''Microcotyle'' are ectoparasites that affect their host by attaching themselves as larvae on the gills of the fish and grow into adult stage ...

'', with a symmetrical elongate body, comprising an anterior part which contains most organs and a posterior part called the haptor. The haptor is subsymmetrical and continuous with body, and bears 20–39 clamps, arranged as two subequal lateral rows, one on each side. The clamps of the haptor attach the animal to the gill of the fish. There are also two septate oval buccal suckers at the anterior extremity. The digestive organs include an anterior, terminal mouth, a globular pharynx, a long thin oesophagus without lateral diverticula and a posterior

intestine The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The GI tract contains all the major organs of the digestive system, in humans ...

that bifurcates at level of genital atrium in two lateral branches not united posteriorly, one branche ends at level of the testes while the other extends into the haptor. Each adult contains male and female reproductive organs. The reproductive organs include an anterior genital atrium, armed with numerous conical spines, arranged as one main anterior group and two postero-lateral smaller groups called (“pockets” of Mamaev), a medio-dorsal vagina located posterior to genital atrium, a single tubular

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

consisting of an convoluted tube and 9–20 intercaecal psot-ovarien testes in posterior half of body proper. The Eggs are fusiform with long filaments at both ends.

Etymology

The species name refers to Algeria, the type-locality of the species.

Diagnosis

''Microcotyle algeriensis'' differs from ''Microcotyle'' sp. from ''Helicolenus dactylopterus'' by the number of clamps, the number of spines in the genital atrium, hosts, and COI divergence between the two. ''Microcotyle algeriensis'' is also distinguished different from ''M. sebastis'' from the Pacific by the COI divergence and host.

Molecular informations

Three sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 gene of ''Microcotyle algeriensis'' (and the corresponding host fish) were published by Ayadi ''et al''., (2017). In the same paper, the authors provided two sequences of ''Microcotyle'' sp. along with the corresponding host ''Helicolenus dactylopterus''.

Hosts and localities

The type-host is the small red scorpionfish '' Scorpaena notata'', the identification of the host was confirmed by molecular barcoding of the COI gene. The type-locality is off Algeria.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q59342061 Microcotylidae Animals described in 2017 Parasites of fish