Echinocephalus inserratus sp. n. (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) from the stingray Pastinachus ater (Dasyatidae) and new records of congeneric and some other nematode larvae from teleost fishes off New Caledonia

Based on light and electron microscopical studies, a new nematode parasite, Echinocephalus inserratus sp. n. (Spirurida: Gnathostomatidae), is described from the spiral valve of broad cowtail stingray Pastinachus ater (Macleay) (Dasyatidae, Myliobatiformes) off New Caledonia. The species morphologically biometrically most similar to overstreeti Deardorff et Ko, 1983, differing it mainly in absence serrations posterior parts pseudolabia interlabia, having longer gubernaculum (150-299 µm long). Morphologically unidentifiable, mostly encapsulated larvae spp. were recorded following six teleost fishes collected Caledonian waters, serving as paratenic hosts: Perciformes: Acanthopagrus berda (Forsskal) (Sparidae) Nemipterus furcosus (Valenciennes) (Nemipteridae); Tetraodontiformes: Abalistes stellatus (Anonymous), Pseudobalistes fuscus (Bloch Schneider) (both Balistidae), Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin) (Tetraodontidae) Aluterus monoceros (Linnaeus) (Monacanthidae). Co-parasitising Ascarophis Hysterothylacium also P. fuscus. All these findings represent host geographical records. A key valid Molin, 1858 provided.