Gyrodactylus poeciliae n. sp and G-milleri n. sp (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Poecilia caucana (Steindachner) in Venezuela

Two new species of Gyrodactylus are described from the South American live-bearing fish Poecilia caucana from Venezuela. Gyrodactylus poeciliae n. sp. is characterised by conspicuous ventral bar processes and by marginal hooks in which the tips are barely curved. Morphologically, the species resembles G. bullatarudis and G. costaricensis, and its relationship to the former was confirmed by sequencing the Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) and the 5.8S ribosomal gene of the ribosomal DNA. Gyrodactylus milleri n. sp. was characterised by large, sharply angled marginal hook sickles in which the tips overhang the toes. This species resembled most closely G. turnbulli from guppies. These descriptions confirm the occurrence of G. turnbulli and G. bullatarudis-like gyrodactylids on a range of South American poeciliid fishes.