A NEW SPECIES OF HALIPEGUS (TREMATODA: DEROGENIDAE: HALIPEGINAE) IN LITHOBATES SPECTABILIS (ANURA: RANIDAE) FROM RESERVA DE LA BIOSFERA BARRANCA DE METZTITLAN, HIDALGO, MEXICO
While surveying the parasites of the leopard frog Lithobates spectabilis in the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve, Hidalgo, Mexico, we found several specimens of an undescribed species of Halipegus (Trematoda: Derogenidae: Halipeginae) in the buccal cavity of this species of frog. The objective of this study was to describe the new species using an integrative approach, incorporating morphological data, multivariate analyses (principal and discriminant components), and phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of the conserved ribosomal regions (28S rDNA) of DNA and the mitochondrial subunit of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI mtDNA). The methods of maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and maximum parsimony were used to determine the relationships of the new species to other hemiurids. Halipegus metztitlanensis n. sp. differs from its congeners mainly by the combination of the following characters: the distance from the ventral sucker to the right anterior testis, the distance from the ventral sucker to the left posterior testis, the length and width of the ovary, the width of the left testis, the distance between the oral sucker and the ventral sucker, and the length of the egg filament. The new species was recovered as a distinct group separate from other hemiuroideans based on the 28S rDNA and COI mtDNA phylogenetic analyses. This is the first report of a hemiurid trematode infecting the endemic leopard frog in Hidalgo, México and the second species described from the country.ABSTRACT
Hidalgo State and location of the type locality (Metznoxtla, in bold) in the Barranca de Metztitlan Biosphere Reserve, Hidalgo, Mexico.
Halipegus metztitlanensis n. sp. from buccal cavity of showy leopard frog Lithobates spectabilis from the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve, Hidalgo, Mexico. (A) Body of adult. (B) Terminal genitalia. (C) Proximal female genitalia (holotype: CNHE 12292). (D) Egg with the polar filament (paratype: CHE P00151).
Photomicrographs of Halipegus metztitlanensis n. sp. (A) Whole body in ventral view (holotype: CNHE 12292). (B) Eggs with the polar filaments (paratype: CHE P00151).
Scatterplots of PCA and DA of species of Halipegus. (A) Scatterplot of principal component 1 (PC) 1 versus PC2 from principal component analysis of 27 log-transformed measurements from 38 specimens of Halipegus. (B) Discriminant analysis showing the discrimination of the specimens of Halipegus examined.
Maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree for some members of the superfamily Hemiuroidea based on partial 28S rDNA. The tree includes results for ML, Bayesian inference (BI), and maximum parsimony (MP), with bootstrap (ML and MP) and posterior probabilities (BI) branch support (ML/BI/MP). GenBank accession numbers are shown. Scale bar is in substitutions per site. Azygiidae is the outgroup.
Maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree for some members of the superfamily Hemiuroidea based on partial COI mtDNA. The tree includes results for ML, Bayesian inference (BI), and maximum parsimony (MP), with bootstrap (ML and MP) and posterior probabilities (BI) branch support (ML/BI/MP). GenBank accession numbers are shown. Scale bar is in substitutions per site. Azygiidae is the outgroup.
Contributor Notes
Version of Record, first published online with fixed content and layout, in compliance with ICZN Arts. 8.1.3.2, 8.5, and 21.8.2 as amended, 2012. ZooBank publication registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CBF903B7-482C-447B-8239-86400F026A2D.