Integrative taxonomy of Annulotrema (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from some Characiformes of Cameroon: Redescriptions and morphogroup delimitation using numerical phylogeny

The study of the monogenean fauna of four Characiformes consumed in Cameroon has allowed the redescription of seven species of Annulotrema Paperna and Thurston, 1969 and has provided new information for the diagnosis of these helminths. Thus, concerning the parasites of Brycinus kingsleyae Günther, 1986, in Annulotrema combesi Birgi, 1988, the copulatory tube can make two turns of spire contrary to the initial description which indicates a single turn; on the dorsal transverse bar of Anulotrema maillardi Birgi, 1988, a sclerotized structure was observed for the first time; a loop was also noted for the first time on the ventral bar of Annulotrema nyongesnsis Birgi, 1988. For parasites of Phenacogrammus major , the vagina was observed for the first time in Annulotrema gabrioni Birgi, 1988. A membrane extension never reported on the dorsal transverse bar of Annulotrema hepseti Paperna and Thurston, 1969, a parasite of Hepsetus odoe was observed during this study. Numerical phylogeny allowed the assignment of a morphogroup to the two newly described species in Brycinus macrolepidotus Valenciennes, 1849. Thus, a new morphologroup named Ngombiensis n. gr. was created to classify Annulotrema ngombiensis Ndongo and Tombi, 2023. As for Annulotrema nkengfacki Ndongo and Tombi, 2023, its morphometric characteristics allow it to be associated with the Nyongensis group created by Birgi in 1988.