Gyrodactylus molweni sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Chelon richardsonii (Smith, 1846) (Mugilidae) from Table Bay, South Africa

Gyrodactylus molweni sp. n. is described from the body surface and fins of South African mullet, Chelon richardsonii (Smith, 1846) collected Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town compared to five other species grey mullets globally namely G. zhukovi Ling, 1963 mugili Zhukov, 1970 Planiliza haematocheila (Temminck Schlegel, 1845); mugelus Rawson, 1973 Mugil cephalus L.; curemae Conroy Conroy, 1985 curema Valenciennes, 1836 xiamenensis Zang,Yang Liu, 2001 macrolepis 1846). Morphologically, has prominent ventral bar processes that near cover hamulus roots, marginal sickles with large rhomboid heels, slender shafts fine points extend beyond sickle toes. can, however, be readily differentiated: have bars small processes; hooks proportionately short open-faced blades; possesses hook deep, rounded forward slanting an angular, square line inner face blades. Although length are similar n., their hamuli double size. A GenBank BlastN search 931 bp sequence covering ITS1, 5.8S ITS2 gave no close hits; nearest for which sequences available nipponensis Ogawa Egusa, 1978 (identity 96.56%, 899/931 bp). The proposal as a new species, therefore, well supported by both molecular morphological analyses presented herein. This first C. only second marine environment off continent.