Wetapolystoma almae n. gen., n. sp.

(Monogenea: Polystomatidae) Parasite of Bufo typhonius

(Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from Tropical Peru
Author(s): Mary Ellen Gray
Source: Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (1903-), Vol. 96, No. 3/4 (Oct., 1993),
pp. 181-185
Published by: Kansas Academy of Science
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3628137 .
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 TRANSACTIONSOF THE KANSASACADEMY OF SCIENCE
96(3-4), 1993, pp. 181-185

Wetapolystomaalmae n. gen.,n. sp.

(Monogenea:Polystomatidae)Parasiteof
(Linnaeus,1758) (Amphibia:Bufonidae)
Bufotyphonius
fromTropicalPeru
MARY ELLEN GRAY
MuseumofNaturalHistoryand Department
ofSystematicsand Ecology
ofKansas,Lawrence,Kansas 66045-24540
University

ABSTRACT

Wetapolystoma almae n. gen.,n. sp. (Monogenea:Polystomatidae) is de-

scribedfromtheurinary bladderofBufotyphonius (Linnaeus,1758)collected
in Cusco Amazonico,Peru.Its largeterminalmuscularoral sucker,volu-
minousuterus,and longovarywitha straight fore-end distinguishit from
theother3 polystomatid genera(Polystoma, Mesopolystoma, and Riojatre-
ma) knownto inhabitSouthAmericanamphibians.The opistphaptor is
widerthanthebodyand armedwithone largepairofanchorswithmultiple
striations
and scleritized accessorypiecesconcentrated at the base of the
hook. Thereare eighthooks surrounding the genitalpore. The longand
coileduterusis filledwithmanyeggs,exhibiting ovoviviparous reproduction,
theperfectadaptationto a terrestrialhost,a toad. Wetapolystoma almae is
thefirstpolystomedescribedfromB. typhonius fromPeruand thesecond
polystomatid genusfromB. typhonius fromSouthAmerica.It is thesecond
polystomatid genus and speciesfrom Peru and thefourth genusknownto
occurin SouthAmericanamphibians.

Threegenera(Polystoma,Mesopolystoma, and Riojatrema)of polysto-

matidmonogeneans havebeenreported toinfect
amphibians fromfiveSouth
Americancountries(Table 1). The generaare distinguished
primarilyby
oftheintestines,
characteristics lengthofuterus,positionand shapeofthe
ovary,and absenceof largeopisthaptoralanchors(Riojatrema).The ex-
aminationof museumspecimensof Bufotyphonius hel-
forendoparasitic
minthsyieldedone uniquemonogenetic trematodeof thefamilyPolysto-
matidaefromtheurinarybladder.This polystomatid monogeneanclearly
does not belong to eitherof these threegeneraand is hereindescribedas a
new genus and species.

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182 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One specimenof Wetapolystomaalmae n. gen.,n. sp. was recoveredwhen
20 museum specimens of Bufo typhoniuswere examined forparasitichel-
minths.The polystome was rinsed in distilled water,leftin 30% ethanol
overnightto remove some of the fixative,and placed in 70% ethanol until
processed for mounting.It was stained in Semichon's acetic carmine,de-
hydratedin an ethanol series, cleared in xylene,and mounted in Canada
Balsam. Photomicrographswere taken usingNomarski differential interfer-
ence contrastmicroscopy.Drawings were made with the aid of a camera
lucida and fromphotographs.

Wetapolystoman. gen.
Suborder PolyopisthocotyleaOdner, 1912
SuperfamilyPolystomatoideaGamble, 1896
Family PolystomatidaeGamble, 1896
Description: With charactersof the familyPolystomatidae.Large ter-
minal muscularoral sucker.Long ovarywithstraightfore-end.Uteruscoiled,
anteriorand lateralto ovary. Ovoviviparous reproduction.Testes follicular
and postovarian. Vaginal openingslateralin anterior1/2of body. One large
pair of hamuli on opisthaptor.Multiple striationsand scleritizedaccessory
pieces presenton anchors. Genital pore median in regionof intestinalbi-
furcationwith coronet of eight hooks. Parasite of the urinarybladder of
neotropicalamphibians.
Type Species: Wetapolystomaalmae n. sp.

Wetapolystomaalmae n. sp.
(Figs. 1-3)
Description: (one whole mount) With characteristicsof the familyPo-
lystomatidae.Body 8.0 mm long x 4.0 mm wide. Opisthaptor2.5 mm long
x 4.34 mm wide withsix muscularsuckers0.58-0.84 mm (avg. 0.70) wide
withone largepair of anchors 1056.25 micronslong. Multiplestriationsand
scleritizedaccessory pieces presenton anchors. Pharynx0.276 mm wide.
Genital pore 325 microns wide, median, and anteriorto the two lateral
vaginal openings,which are in the anterior1/2of body. A ringof eightsmall
hooks 68.25 microns long surroundgenital pore. Ovary 1.972 mm long,
0.50 mm at widestwidth,0.26 mm at narrowestwidth.Uterus long,coiled,
filledwithmanyeggs(stopped countingat 100). Eggslarge,130-182 microns
long (avg. 151.45, n = 25). Intestinalanastomoses postovarian,extending
into opisthaptor.Vitellaria follicular,lateral, restrictedto posterior2/3 Of
body. Testes postovarian,multipleand follicular.

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VOLUME 96, NUMBERS 3-4 183

Table 1. Polystomatid (Polystoma,

monogeneans andRiojatrema)
Mesopolystoma, reported
fromSouthAmericanamphibians.

Host(s) Author(s)

Argentina
P. borelli Pleuroderma
borelli Combesand Laurent,1974
P. praecox Telmatobius
oxycephalus Combesand Laurent,1978
P. andinum Melanophrinusrubriventris Combesand Laurent,1978
P. guevari Hylapulchella Combesand Laurent,1979
P. lopezromani venulosa
Phrynohyas Combesand Laurent,1979
Brazil
Polystoma sp. Trachycephalus
nigromaculatus Kohnet al., 1978
Hyla mesophaea Kohnet al., 1978
Leptodactylus
pentadactylus Kohnet al., 1978
P. lopezromani Phrynohyas
venulosa Combesand Laurent,1979
Peru
M. samiriensis Osteocephalus
taurinus Vaucher,1981
Ecuador
P. touzeti Gastrotheca
riobambae Vaucher,1987
P. napoensis taurinus
Osteocephalus Vaucher,1987
Osteocephalus
leprienri Vaucher,1987
R. ecuadorensis Bufotyphonius Dyer,1985
M. samiriensis Osteocephalustaurinus Vaucher,1987
R. ecuadorensis Bufotyphonius Vaucher,1987
Paraguay
P. cuvieri cuvieri
Physalaemus Vaucher,1990
P. diptychi Bufodiptychus Vaucher,1987

TAXONOMIC SUMMARY

TypeHost: Bufotyphonius (Linnaeus,1758) (Anura:Bufonidae).

SiteofInfection: Urinarybladder.
TypeLocality: PeruDepartamento de Madrede Dios, ProvinciaTam-
bopata,Cusco Amazonico, Rio Madre de Dios, ca. 15 km E PuertoMal-
donado.
SpecimenDeposited: HolotypeUSNM Helm. Coll. No. 82387.
Etymology:Thisnewgenusand speciesis namedforMrs.Alma(Weta)
E. Gray,mymother, in expression
ofmygratitude and appreciationforher
guidanceand supportthroughout when
mylife,especially I was a child.
REMARKS

This parasiticplatyhelminth is undoubtedlya polystomepossessinga

highlybranched tract
intestinal and six suckerson itsopisthaptor,
muscular
in additionto inhabitingtheurinary bladderofan amphibian.Wetapolys-

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

i.?

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Figs. 1-3. Wetapolystomaalmae n. gen., n. sp. 1--Adult, ventral view (uterus simplified
forillustrativepurposes). Scale bar = 1 mm; 2--one opisthaptoralanchor (in toto). Scale bar
= 200 microns; 3--4 of 8 genital coronet hooks. Scale bar = 20 microns.

toma almae is unique among polystomatidmonogeneans by being large in

size (8 mm in slightlycontracted state) and having a long ovary with a
straightfore-end.Othercharacteristicfeaturesinclude postovarian follicular
testes,highlycoiled uterus,differencesin position and size of oral sucker,
and extentof intestinalanastomoses. Various featuresimmediatelydistin-
guish Wetapolystomafrom the six polystomatid genera known to infect

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VOLUME 96, NUMBERS 3-4 185

amphibians.Membersof the genusPolystomaZeder, 1800 have a short

ovaryand a shortuteruswitha bluntfore-end. The two testesof Neodi-
plorchisYamaguti,1963 are lobed and in themiddleofthebody.In Me-
sopolystoma Vaucher,1981 thevitellariaextendsfromtheintestinal bifur-
cationintotheopisthaptor
andtheintestines arenothighly
branched. Totally
lackingintestinalanastomosesare membersof Metapolystoma Combes,
1976.RiojatremaLamothe-Argumedo, 1964 and Eupolystoma Kaw, 1950
lack hamulion theiropisthaptors.
The latterhas onlyone intestinalanas-
tomoses.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wishto thankL. Trueband W. Duellmanforproviding museumspec-
imensfordissection.The manuscript
and illustrations
werereviewedearlier
byJ.Collins,D. Fautin,P. Grayand L. Trueb.
SUMMARY
Wetapolystomaalmae n. gen.,n. sp.,a parasiteinfecting
theurinaryblad-
derofBufotyphonius Linnaeus,1758, a toad from the rainforest
tropical of
Peruis described.Its massiveterminaloral sucker,in additionto itslarge
sizeanduteruswitha straightfore-end setitapartfromall otherpolystomes
thusfardescribedfromamphibians.Its voluminousuteruspackedwith
numerouseggsillustrates ovoviviparousreproduction. Wetapolystomais
to an
adapted parasitize amphibian
perfectly host thatonlyreturns
to an
aquatichabitatto mate.

LITERATURE CITED
Combes,C., and Laurent,R. F. 1974. Polystoma borellin. sp. (Monogenea,Polystomatidae)
parasitesde Pleuroderma borelliPeracca(Anura,Leptodactylidae) en RepubliqueAr-
gentine.ActaZoologicaLilloana31:57-64.
Combes,C., and Laurent,R. F. 1978. Deux nouveauxPolystomatidae (Monogenea)de Re-
publiqueArgentine. ActaZoologicaLilloana33:85-91.
Combes,C., and Laurent,R. F. 1979. Les MonogenesPolystomatidae de RepubliqueArgen-
tine:descriptionde deux nouvellesespeceset essai de synthese. RevistaIbericade
Parasitologia79:545-557.
Dyer,W. G. 1985. Riojatremaecuadorensis n. sp. (Trematoda:Polystomatidae) fromthe
urinarybladderofBufotyphonius (Linnaeus,1758).J.Parasit.71(2):215-217.
Kohn,A., C. Combes,and D. C. Gomes. 1978. Representants du genrePolystoma Zeder
(Monogenea)au Bresil.Bulletindu Museumnationald'histoire naturelle,Paris,#ser.,
514,Zoologie353:227-229.
Vaucher,C. 1981. Mesopolystoma samiriensis n. gen.,n. sp. (Monogenea:Polystomatidae),
parasitede Osteocephalustaurinus Steindachner (Amphibia:Hylidae)en Amazoniepe-
ruvienne.RevueSuisseZool. 3:797-802.
Vaucher,C. 1990. Polystomacuvierin. sp. (Monogenea:Polystomatidae), a parasiteof the
urinarybladderoftheLeptodactylid frogPhysalaemus in Paraguay.
cuvieri J.Parasitol.
76(4):501-504.

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