A Revision of the Subfamily Microscaphidiinae (Platyhelminthes, Digenea, Microscaphidiidae) Parasitic in Marine Turtles (Reptilia, Chelonia)

Abstract

A revision of the subfamily Microscaphidiinae Looss, 1900 is presented and characters of taxonomic significance discussed. The genus Microscaphidium Looss, 1900, contains M. reticulare (van Beneden, 1859) Looss, 1901 (synonyms M. japonicum Oguro, 1941; M. caballeroi Groschaft, 1977); M. aberrans Looss, 1902 (synonym M. reticulare in part); and M, warui, sp. nov. Confusion in the literature over the identities of M. reticulare and M. aberrans is discussed. A neotype is selected for the former species and a lectotype for the latter. Polyangium linguatula (Looss, 1899) Looss, 1902 (synonyms P. miyajimai Kobayashi, 1921; P. colymbi Poche, 1925; P. longiseminale Chattopadhyaya, 1972) is the sole species in Polyangium Looss, 1902. The genus Angiodictyum Looss, 1902 contains A. parallelum (Looss, 1901) Looss, 1902; A. posterovitellatum Chattopadhyaya, 1972; A. longum, sp, nov.; A. glossoides, sp. nov. Polygorgyra, gen. nov., is proposed for P. cholados, sp. nov. Microscaphidium chelonei Chattopadhyaya, 1972 nec Mehrotra, 1973 and Angiodictyum anteroporum Chattopadhyaya, 1972 are regarded as species inquirendae. Microscaphidium chelonei Mehrotra, 1973 nec Chattopadhyaya, 1972 is a nomen nudum. The following species are recorded for the first time from the green turtle, Chelonia mydas (L.) in Australian waters: Microscaphidium reticulare; M. aberrans; M. warui; Angiodictyum posterovitellatum; A. longum; Polygorgyra cholados.