Morphological and genetic analysis of a rediscoveredsp. parasitisingand(Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae).

Abstract

Clinostomids are a group of digeneans in which substantial diversity has been recently discovered, with some metacercariae specific to their fish hosts. Genetic analysis has been instrumental in elucidating species diversity within this genus. Recently, seven COI lineages were reported in Argentina, along with three metacercarial morphotypes lacking molecular data. Two of these were found parasitising Rivulidae fishes. The discovery ofmetacercariae inandfrom temporary ponds in the western Chacoan region allowed us to redescribe the metacercariae previously identified by other authors and provide the first sequences of this lineage. The morphology of the metacercariae in both hosts matched previously reported descriptions. Genetic analysis clustered the new lineage with,7,L1, andCRA. This discovery leaves only two morphological records of metacercariae to be characterised using DNA sequencing: one in another Rivulidae () and one in a Loricaridae (sp.). The present results represent the eighth clinostomid lineage sequenced from Argentina, highlighting the extensive diversity in South America and the many lineages yet to be described or identified, considering that only one of these lineages is formally described based on adult specimens found in the heron