1. Amended diagnosis, mitochondrial genome, and phylogenetic position of Sphyranura euryceae(Neodermata, Monogenea, Polystomatidae), a parasite of the Oklahoma salamander
- Author
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Leeming, Samuel J., Hahn, Christoph, Koblmüller, Stephan, McAllister, Chris T., Vanhove, Maarten P. M., Kmentová, Nikol, Leeming, Samuel J., Hahn, Christoph, Koblmüller, Stephan, McAllister, Chris T., Vanhove, Maarten P. M., and Kmentová, Nikol
- Abstract
Polystomatidae is a monogenean family whose representatives infect mainly (semi)-aquatic tetrapods. Species of SphyranuraWright, 1879 exhibit ectoparasitism on salamander hosts, with molecular work supporting their inclusion within Polystomatidae, at an early diverging, yet unresolved, position in the clade of otherwise endoparasitic polystomatid parasites of batrachian hosts. Records of representatives of Sphyranuraare scarce with genetic data only available for S. oligorchisAlvey, 1933. Based on detailed morphological examination and comparison with type material, we identified worms belonging to Sphyranurainfecting Oklahoma salamander (Eurycea tynerensis) as S. euryceaeHughes & Moore, 1943. Along with an amended diagnosis of Sphyranura, we provide the first molecular data for S. euryceaein the form of a mitochondrial genome and nuclear (18S, 28SrRNA) markers. Close morphological similarity between the two species of Sphyranurais reflected in low genetic divergence. Mitochondrial level comparison reveals instances of tRNA gene rearrangements in polystomatids. Although the phylogenetic reconstruction supports Sphyranuraas early branching in the lineage of polystomatid monogeneans infecting batrachians, certain nodes remain unresolved.
- Published
- 2023
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