The terrestrial flatworm Microplana scharffi (Geoplanidae, Microplaninae): mitochondrial genome, phylogenetic proximity to the Bipaliinae and genes related to regeneration.

A genome skimming approach of sequencing was undertaken on a subfamily of terrestrial flatworms that had been neglected in genomic studies until now, namely the Microplaninae as represented here by Microplana scharffi. A single run of short-read sequencing enabled retrieval of the complete mitogenome, the two paralogous versions of the 18S gene, the elongation factor gene EF1α, plus two genes involved in the regeneration process, namely those coding for ß-CATENIN-1 and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). The 15,297 bp mitogenome lacks a functional tRNA-Ala and has a mandatory alternative TTG start codon in its cox1 gene.

The invasive land flatworm Arthurdendyus triangulatus has repeated sequences in the mitogenome, extra-long cox2 gene and paralogous nuclear rRNA clusters.

Using a combination of short- and long-reads sequencing, we were able to sequence the complete mitochondrial genome of the invasive 'New Zealand flatworm' Arthurdendyus triangulatus (Geoplanidae, Rhynchodeminae, Caenoplanini) and its two complete paralogous nuclear rRNA gene clusters. The mitogenome has a total length of 20,309 bp and contains repetitions that includes two types of tandem-repeats that could not be solved by short-reads sequencing. We also sequenced for the first time the mitogenomes of four species of Caenoplana (Caenoplanini).

Rediscovery of Bipalium admarginatum de Beauchamp, 1933 (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Geoplanidae) in Malaysia, with molecular characterisation including the mitogenome.

We present here the first observation of Bipalium admarginatum de Beauchamp, 1933 since its original description 90 years ago. Three specimens were found on Perhentian Kecil Island, off Terengganu State, Malaysia and photographed in the field, and two were collected. This report thus includes the first colour photographs published for this species, from a locality close to the type-locality, Tioman Island (which is ca.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Tristoma integrum Diesing, 1850 (Monogenea, Capsalidae), including its complete mitogenome.

Capsalids are monopisthocotylean monogenean parasites found on the skin and gills of fish. Capsalines (subfamily Capsalinae) are large-sized capsalids, parasitic on highly prized gamefish, and species of Tristoma parasitise only the gills of swordfish (Xiphias gladius). We obtained specimens of Tristoma integrum Diesing, 1850 from swordfish collected off Algeria in the Mediterranean Sea.

The complete mitogenome of the potentially invasive flatworm (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae) displays unusual features common to other Rhynchodeminae.

We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the flatworm . The species, originally described from New South Wales, Australia, has been found in various locations in the British Isles, New Zealand and in the United States of America; it is thus potentially invasive. The genome is 16513 bp long, encodes for 12 protein coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes and 20 tRNA genes, and is completely colinear with the other two available Rhynchodeminae.

The invasive land flatworm Obama nungara in La Runion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, the first report of the species for Africa.

The land flatworm Obama nungara, a species originating from South America and already invasive in many European countries, is recorded from La Runion, a French island in the Indian Ocean. This is the first record of O. nungara from this locality and also the first record of the species for Africa.

Redescription, complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic relationships of Hexostoma thynni (Delaroche, 1811) Rafinesque, 1815 (Monogenea, Hexostomatidae).

Specimens of Hexostoma thynni (Delaroche, 1811) Rafinesque, 1815 were collected from their type-host, the bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus, caught off Algeria, i.e. close to the type-locality, off Mallorca, which is also in the Mediterranean.

Truly a hyperparasite, or simply an epibiont on a parasite? The case of Cyclocotyla bellones (Monogenea, Diclidophoridae).

Cyclocotyla bellones Otto, 1823 (Monogenea, Diclidophoridae) is one of the few monogenean species reported as hyperparasitic: the worms dwell on cymothoid isopods, themselves parasites of the buccal cavity of fishes. We present here observations based on newly collected monogenean specimens from Ceratothoa parallela (Otto, 1828), an isopod parasite of Boops boops off Algeria and also investigated its diet to address whether Cy. bellones is indeed a hyperparasite, i.

A world of taxonomic pain: cryptic species, inexplicable host-specificity, and host-induced morphological variation among species of Yamaguti, 1934 (Trematoda: Bivesiculidae) from Indo-Pacific Holocentridae, Muraenidae and Serranidae.

The taxonomy of species of Bivesicula Yamaguti, 1934 is analysed for samples from holocentrid, muraenid and serranid fishes from Japan, Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia), the Great Barrier Reef (Queensland), New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Analysis of three genetic markers (cox1 mtDNA, ITS2 and 28S rDNA) identifies three strongly supported clades of species and suggests that Bivesicula as presently recognized is not monophyletic. On the basis of combined morphological, molecular and biological data, 10 species are distinguished of which five are proposed as new.

Four polyopisthocotyleans (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) from carangid fishes in the Mediterranean, off the Algerian coasts.

Four polyopisthocotyleans were collected from the gill filaments of carangids from off the Algerian coast, southern Mediterranean. Specimens of van Beneden & Hesse, 1863 (Gastrocotylidae) and cf. Dillon & Hargis, 1965 (Heteraxinidae) from the Mediterranean horse mackerel (Steindachner), (Meserve, 1938) (Heteraxinidae) from the greater amberjack (Risso) and Euzet & Ktari, 1970 (Pyragraphoridae) from the pompano (Linnaeus) are redescribed based on newly collected specimens.

Hammerhead flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Geoplanidae, Bipaliinae): mitochondrial genomes and description of two new species from France, Italy, and Mayotte.

Background: New records of alien land planarians are regularly reported worldwide, and some correspond to undescribed species of unknown geographic origin. The description of new species of land planarians (Geoplanidae) should classically be based on both external morphology and histology of anatomical structures, especially the copulatory organs, ideally with the addition of molecular data.

Methods: Here, we describe the morphology and reproductive anatomy of a species previously reported as "black", and the morphology of a species previously reported as "blue".

Echinocephalus inserratus sp. n. (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) from the stingray Pastinachus ater (Dasyatidae) and new records of congeneric and some other nematode larvae from teleost fishes off New Caledonia.

Based on light and electron microscopical studies, a new nematode parasite, Echinocephalus inserratus sp. n. (Spirurida: Gnathostomatidae), is described from the spiral valve of the broad cowtail stingray Pastinachus ater (Macleay) (Dasyatidae, Myliobatiformes) from off New Caledonia.

Redescription of Ascarophis distorta Fusco et Overstreet, 1978 (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae) from the stomach of some butterflyfishes off New Caledonia.

Purpose: The nematode Ascarophis distorta Fusco et Overstreet, 1978 (Cystidicolidae), originally described from the butterflyfish Chaetodon paucifasciatus Ahl (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae) in the Red Sea, was established based solely on the light microscopical (LM) examination of specimens. However, the present taxonomy of cystidicolid nematodes is mostly based on details of the cephalic structures properly visible only with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Methods: Helminthological examinations of some marine fishes from coral reefs off New Caledonia, South Pacific, carried out in the years 2003-2007, revealed the presence of A.

Complete mitogenome of the invasive land flatworm , the second Geoplanidae (Platyhelminthes) to display an unusually long gene.

We sequenced the complete mitogenome of the invasive flatworm (Platyhelminthes, order Tricladida, family Geoplanidae). The genome is 17,210 bp long, and displays common unusual characteristics shared with , such as its colinearity, an overlap between and genes and an unusually long genes. Both and are members of the subfamily Rhynchodeminae and their close relationships are supported by the maximum likelihood phylogeny inferred from the protein-coding genes.

A comparative study of the ultrastructural characteristics of the mature spermatozoa of two fellodistomids Tergestia clonacantha and T. laticollis and contribution to the phylogenetic knowledge of the Gymnophalloidea.

The ultrastructure of the mature spermatozoa of Tergestia clonacantha and T. laticollis collected from the digestive tracts of fishes from New Caledonia is described using transmission electron microscopy and compared to that of related species. The spermatozoa of the two species exhibit the general pattern described in most digeneans, namely two axonemes with the 9 + "1" pattern of the Trepaxonemata, nucleus, mitochondrion, cortical microtubules, an external ornamentation of the plasma membrane, spine-like bodies and granules of glycogen.

Erection of Euterranova n. gen. and Neoterranova n. gen. (Nematoda, Anisakidae), with the description of E. dentiduplicata n. sp. and new records of two other anisakid nematodes from sharks off New Caledonia.

Helminthological examinations of three species of sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier, Triaenodon obesus (both Carcharhinidae, Carcharhiniformes) and Stegostoma fasciatum (Stegostomatidae, Orectolobiformes) from New Caledonian waters, carried out during 2003-2005, revealed the presence of three species of adult anisakid nematodes referable to Terranova Leiper et Atkinson, 1914. However, this genus can no longer be considered valid, because its type species has been designated a species inquirenda. Therefore, the present nematodes are assigned to two newly established genera, Euterranova n.

Redescription of Flexophora ophidii Prost & Euzet, 1962 (Monogenea: Diclidophoridae) from Ophidion barbatum (Ophidiidae) off the Algerian coast, Mediterranean Sea.

The diclidophorid Flexophora ophidii Prost & Euzet, 1962, the type- and only species of the genus Flexophora Prost & Euzet, 1962, has never been redescribed neither reported since its original description. The latest lacked a diagnosis of the genus that remains unavailable to date. Flexophora ophidii is redescribed and illustrated based on examination of new material from the type-host Ophidion barbatum L.

No vagina, one vagina, or multiple vaginae? An integrative study of Pseudaxine trachuri (Monogenea, Gastrocotylidae) leads to a better understanding of the systematics of Pseudaxine and related genera.

The presence/absence and number of vaginae is a major characteristic for the systematics of the Monogenea. Three gastrocotylid genera share similar morphology and anatomy but are distinguished by this character: Pseudaxine Parona & Perugia, 1890 has no vagina, Allogastrocotyle Nasir & Fuentes Zambrano, 1983 has two vaginae, and Pseudaxinoides Lebedev, 1968 has multiple vaginae. In the course of a study of Pseudaxine trachuri Parona & Perugia 1890, we found specimens with structures resembling "multiple vaginae"; we compared them with specimens without vaginae in terms of both morphology and molecular characterisitics (COI barcode), and found that they belonged to the same species.