Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of
Date of this Version
12-1996
Abstract
Systematic study of the closely related hemiurid genera Mitrostoma, Neopisthadena and Opisthadena revealed that Opisthadena cortesi is a junior synonym of Opisthadena dimidia and Opisthadena fujianensis and Opisthadena marina are species inquirendae. Phylogenetic analysis of the 7 recognized species, based on 21 transformation series derived from comparative morphologic characters, produced a single tree with a consistency index of 0.735. The five species of the genus Opisthadena constitute a monophyletic clade and Neopisthadena habei is their sister group. Mitrostoma nototheniae is the sister group of the other 6 members of the clade. Geographic distribution suggests an ancient circum-Pacific distribution of the group. The association between kyphosids and this group of hemiurids appeared with the ancestor of Neopisthadena and Opisthadena.
Comments
Published in the Journal of Parasitology (December 1996) 82(6): 1,005-1,010. Copyright 1996, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.