Pseudorhabdosynochus enitsuji

Pseudorhabdosynochus enitsuji, squamodiscs and haptoral parts

Homologies of the sclerotized vaginae in species of the ‘Pseudorhabdosynochus riouxi group‘

Pseudorhabdosynochus enitsuji is a small monogenean. The species has the general characteristics of other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus, with a flat body and a posterior haptor, which is the organ by which the monogenean attaches itself to the gill of is host. The haptor bears two squamodiscs, one ventral and one dorsal.

The sclerotized male copulatory organ, or "quadriloculate organ", has the shape of a bean with four internal chambers, as in other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus. The vagina includes a sclerotized part, which is a complex structure.

Chaabane, Neifar, and Justine, in 2017 considered that the three species Pseudorhabdosynochus riouxi, Pseudorhabdosynochus bouaini, and Pseudorhabdosynochus enitsuji shared a common general structure of the sclerotized vagina with a conspicuous spherical secondary chamber and proposed to accommodate them within a ‘Pseudorhabdosynochus riouxi group’. These three species are also parasites on groupers classified within the genus Mycteroperca.[2]

The goldblotch grouper Mycteroperca costae is the type-host of Pseudorhabdosynochus enitsuji. The type-locality is the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia; Off Libya and the Atlantic Ocean off Dakar, Senegal are additional localities.[1][2]