Neoandracantha peruensis
| Neoandracantha peruensis | |
|---|---|
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| Neoandracantha peruensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
| Class: | Palaeacanthocephala |
| Order: | Polymorphida |
| Family: | Polymorphidae |
| Genus: | Neoandracantha |
| Species: | N. peruensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Neoandracantha peruensis Amin & Heckmann, 2017 | |
Neoandracantha peruensis is an endoparasite in the Polymorphidae family of thorny-headed worms.[1]
The larval stages (cystacanths) of Neoandracantha peruensis were described from the ghost crab Ocypode gaudichaudii collected from the Pacific coast of Peru. While it is uncommon to describe acanthocephalan taxa from immature stages, Amin & Heckmann (2017)[1] claimed that the presence of clear-cut distinguishing features separating the present material from its nearest congeneric taxa, and the absence of adults, justified the erection of the new species N. peruensis.
Morphology
Specimens of N. peruensis have a slender trunk with two anterior swellings, 3 separate fields of spines on the foretrunk swelling, and no genital spines on the hindtrunk. The proboscis is heavily armored with 21–22 longitudinal rows of 22 hooks each. Hook no. 14 is more robust ventrally than dorsally. Cystacanths of N. peruensis also have a long tubular hindtrunk and the males have diagonal testes in the midtrunk swelling.
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Scanning electron microscopy of Neoandracantha peruensis7.png)
Scanning electron microscopy of Neoandracantha peruensis.png)
Scanning electron microscopy of Neoandracantha peruensis
References
- 1 2 Amin, Omar M.; Heckmann, Richard A. (2017). "Neoandracantha peruensis n. gen. n. sp. (Acanthocephala, Polymorphidae) described from cystacanths infecting the ghost crab Ocypode gaudichaudii on the Peruvian coast". Parasite. 24: 40. doi:10.1051/parasite/2017038. ISSN 1776-1042.
