''Microcotyle pomacanthi'' is a species of monogenean, parasitic on the gills of a marine fish. It belongs to the family Microcotylidae.MacCallum, 1915. Notes on the genus ''Microcotyle'' III. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere. 38, 71-7
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Taxonomy

''Microcotyle pomacanthi'' was described and illustrated based on specimens recovered from the gills of fishes from different genera and belonging to distinct families, from the

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Aquarium, as ''Microcotyle pomocanthi''. In the original description, MacCallum stated that the specimens were so much alike and he hesitated to describe them as separate species. He considered that describing them under one name would point out the remarkable similarities. Dillon & Hargis redescribed and illustrated ''Microcotyle pomacanthi'' from the gills of the grass porgy ''Calamus arctifrons'' (

Sparidae The Sparidae are a family of fish in the order Perciformes, commonly called sea breams and porgies. The sheepshead, scup, and red seabream are species in this family. Most sparids are deep-bodied compressed fish with a small mouth separated by a ...

) off Florida, noted slight differences in the atrial spines and suggested that further study may show that MacCallum's (1915) description included more than one species, as he suggested. The "unnatural" list of hosts given in the original description may be due to unnatural source of the hosts, the

Aquarium. Study of material from natural habitats is warranted to define clearly the hosts and the limits of host-specificity.

Description

''Microcotyle pomacanthi'' 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 body, comprising an anterior part which contains most organs and a posterior part called the haptor. The haptor is symmetrical, and bears 50-78 clamps, arranged as two rows, one on each side. The clamps of the haptor attach the animal to the gill of the fish. There are also two buccal suckers obliquely placed at the sides of the mouth at the anterior extremity and divided by a partition. The digestive organs include an anterior, terminal mouth, a well developed pharynx, a rather short oesophagus 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 ...

with two lateral branches provided with numerous secondary branches. Each adult contains male and female reproductive organs. The reproductive organs include an anterior genital atrium opening just behind the bifurcation, armed with numerous spines, a medio-dorsal vagina, a single

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. ...

, a somewhat indefinite elongated sac crossing the middle of the body and extending backward, and 18-27 testes which are posterior to the ovary. The eggs are provided posteriorly with a rather stout tapering prolongation, anteriorly with a similar elongated structure.

Pathology

Many of the fish belonging to the families Chaetodontidae,

and Haemulidae obtained from the New York Aquarium were infected with ''Microcotyle pomacanthi''; the monogenean could have caused the death of hosts especially for the Chaetodontidae.

Hosts and localities

''Microcotyle pomacanthi'' was described from specimens recovered from the gray angelfish ''Pomocanthus arcuatus'' ( Pomacanthidae), the spotfin butterflyfish ''

Chaetodon ocellatus The spotfin butterflyfish (''Chaetodon ocellatus'') is species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, in the Gulf of Mexico and most commonly found in the Caribbean S ...

'' and the foureye butterflyfish ''

Chaetodon capistratus The foureye butterflyfish (''Chaetodon capistratus'') is a butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is alternatively called the four-eyed butterflyfish. This species is found in the Western Atlantic from Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda to the Wes ...

'' ( Chaetodontidae), the porkfish ''

Anisotremus virginicus ''Anisotremus virginicus'', the porkfish, also known as the Atlantic porkfish sweetlips, dogfish or paragrate grunt, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grunt belonging to the family Haemulidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean. ...

'' ( Haemulidae), the yellowedge grouper ''Hyporthodus flavolimbatus'' (referred to as ''Epinephelus flavolimbatus''in the original description) ( Serranidae), the Spanish hogfish '' Bodianus rufus'' ( Labridae) (referred to as ''Harpe rufa'' in the original description) and the grass porgy ''Calamus arctifrons'' (

). ''Microcotyle pomacanthi'' was first described from fishes from

Aquarium. It was also reported from off Florida. Pomacanthus arcuatus 1.jpg, The gray angelfish Chaetodon ocellatus.jpg, The spotfin butterflyfish Chaetodon capistratus1.jpg, The foureye butterflyfish Anisotremus virginicus2.jpg, The porkfish Bodianus rufus.jpg, The Spanish hogfish FMIB 33954 Calamus Arctifrons Goode and Bean.jpeg, The grass porgy

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q59390258 Microcotylidae Parasites of fish Animals described in 1915