On a new Monogenean-ectoparasites Neocalceostoma guptai n. sp. from gills of fresh-water cat fish Mystus seenghala (Ham.) of District Ayodhya (Faizabad), Uttar Pradesh, India
The fresh-water cat fish Mystus seenghala (Ham.) was collected from local fish market of district Faizabad presently known as Ayodhya (U.P.) and examined 25 specimens, of which only 02 specimens were found infected with 08 specimens of said species. The sites of infections being gill filaments of the host. There are three species of the genus Neocalceostomawas discovered earlier viz.Neocalceostoma elongatum; Neocalceostoma microformis and Neocalceostoma chauhani. The present form differs from all the known species. It differs from Neocalceostoma microformis and Neocalceostoma chauhani in having larger body, difference in ratio of haptor and body, difference in shape of cirrus and gonads. The present form also differs from Neocalceostoma elongatum in having different shape of haptor, absence of oesophagus and difference in shape of cirrus. The present form is therefore, described as a new species Neocalceostoma guptai n. sp. named in honor of Dr. S. P. Gupta for his valuable contribution in the field of taxonomy