Redescription of Benedenia epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1937) Meserve, 1938 (Monogenea: Capsalidae) from cultured and aquarium marine fishes of Japan
The monogenean Benedenia epinepheli (Yamaguti, 1937) Meserve, 1938 is redescribed and reported for the first time from the fins, eyes, and body surface of cultured marine fishes of Japan. Because of close similarity in the general morphology of the reproductive system and median sclerites, comparable morphometrics, and the presence of a flap slightly left of the common genital aperture, Benedeniella congeri Yamaguti, 1958 (= Neobenedeniella congeri (Yamaguti, 1958); Benedenia congeri (Yamaguti, 1958)) and Benedenia sp. of Tsutsumi and Ito, 1965 are synonimized with this species. Twelve new hosts are presented, bringing the total number of known hosts to 25 (11 Tetraodontiformes, 9 Perciformes, 3 Scorpaeniformes, 1 Pleuronectiformes, and 1 Anguilliformes). The ability of B. epinepheli to cause death of cultured fishes during heavy infection, and its low host specificity, ubiquitous distribution in western Japan, and the high susceptibility of marine aquarium fishes are indicative of the parasite's great potential to become a disease problem.