Pseudorhabdosynochus huitoe

Pseudorhabdosynochus huitoe is a diplectanid monogenean parasitic on the gills of the highfin grouper, Epinephelus maculatus. It was described in 2007.

Description
Pseudorhabdosynochus huitoe is a small monogenean, 0.3-0.5 mm in length. The species has the general characteristics of other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus, with a flat body and a posterior haptor, which is the organ by which the monogenean attaches itself to the gill of is host. The haptor bears two squamodiscs, one ventral and one dorsal. The sclerotized male copulatory organ, or "quadriloculate organ", has the shape of a bean with four internal chambers, as in other species of Pseudorhabdosynochus. The vagina includes a sclerotized part, which is a complex structure.

Etymology
Pseudorhabdosynochus huitoe is part of a series of eight species of Pseudorhabdosynochus with similar names. All these species are parasitic on the same host fish. According to the author, names of the new species have been formed on the base of "uitoe", the local name of the host and the letters a–h, in accordance to International Code of Zoological Nomenclature articles 57.6 (one-letter difference) and 32.5.2.4.4 (no punctuation). The eight species sharing this etymology are P. auitoe, P. buitoe, P. cuitoe, P. duitoe, P. euitoe, P. fuitoe, P. guitoe, and P. huitoe.

Hosts and localities


The type-locality is the Barrier Reef off Nouméa, New Caledonia. P. huitoe has also been recorded off New Caledonia from the speckled blue grouper, Epinephelus cyanopodus and the camouflage grouper, Epinephelus polyphekadion.