Hello,
Doing phyllogenetics of Polychaeta and looking for Ichthyotomus specimens?
Well, maybe this could be of interest to you.
As you know the parasitic polychaete species Ichthyotomus sanguinarius seems
to be known only from its original (and exhaustive) description by Eisig, in
1906. See full publication in:
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/31500#8
It is also the single species in the family Ichthyotomidae, placed in
Phyllodocida. It was originally described from the Gulf of Naples, as an
ectoparasite of Anguilliformes, living fixed by the jaws on dorsal and
ventral fins.
Probably the species is more frequent than it could be suggested with base
on its findings. According to the monography on the species by EISIG (1906)
the species wasn’t rare in the Gulf of Naples, by the time when it was
described.
And apparently this is the case. The species was recently found in Sardinian
waters, attached to congers:
CULURGIONI, J., V. D’AMICO, E. COLUCCIA, A. MULAS & V. FIGUS. 2006. Metazoan
parasite fauna of conger eel Conger conger L. from Sardinian waters (Italy).
Ittiopatologia, 3: 253-261.
http://www.sipi-online.it/Rivista/esteso%20vol%203%20n%203-2006/08%20CULURGI
ONI.pdf
Only three congers of the 26 studied were infected by the worm, but one
single conger supported 50 parasites (a numerous family travelling
together?). Maybe the authors have material preserved for molecular and/or
morphological studies, and are open to collaborations or loans. You can find
their contact in the paper.
Anyway, I think this is a very interesting re-discovery than opens the door
to further taxonomic and systematic work.
All the best,
João
João Gil
CEAB-CSIC
Carrer d'accés a la Cala Sant Francesc, 14
E-17300 BLANES (GIRONA)
SPAIN
Email: gil from ceab.csic.es
Telef. (34) 972.33.61.01
Fax: (34) 972.33.78.06
