Abstract
Two new species of Huffmanela Moravec, 1987 are described from coral reef fishes caught off New Caledonia, South Pacific. H. balista n. sp. is described from the adults and eggs found in the swimbladder wall of a single Abalistes stellatus (Balistidae). The male, 9.9 mm long, has characteristic spermatids and spermatozoa. The female has a characteristic cuticularised anterior oesophagus. The eggs (70 × 34 µm) spontaneously hatch and release larvae, 260 µm long. H. longa n. sp. is described from a single female and from eggs collected in the mesentery, swimbladder and body walls of three Gymnocranius grandoculis (Lethrinidae). The female, although immature, is the longest (20.7 mm) of all species of the genus. The eggs (66 × 27 µm) have superficial filaments, and are differentiated from those of H. filamentosa Justine, 2004 from the same host, by their greater measurements. Eggs of Huffmanela mexicana Moravec et Fajer-Avila, 2000, are redescribed for comparison. The host of Huffmanela sp. of Justine, 2004, is identified as Pentapodus aureofasciatus. New observations on H. ossicola Justine, 2004 are reported, including new hosts (Bodianus busellatus and B. perditio), comparative measurements of eggs in various hosts and organs, description of larvae, 228 µm in length, and X-ray observations of the skeleton of an infected fish.
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics