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Synopsis of the species of the genus Sphaeromyxa Thélohan, 1892 (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida: Variisporina: Sphaeromyxidae)

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Abstract

Sphaeromyxa spp. are parasites of marine fishes, infecting the gall-bladders or bile ducts. The spores of these species possess characteristic ribbon-like polar filaments, a unique character among myxozoans. This unique character is also a synapomorphy consistent with estimates of phylogeny for this group which forms a lineage distinct from other myxozoans. There are 49 nominal species of Sphaeromyxa Thélohan, 1892 for which a synopsis is provided, reporting spore dimensions, spore shape, locality, and host species. A line drawing is also provided for each species.

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Acknowledgments

CMW is thankful to the SUNY-ESF and the Oregon State University library staff (particularly Ruth Owens at ESF) for obtaining several original manuscripts, some of which were very difficult to locate. Also thanks to many colleagues who provided manuscripts or were instrumental in locating manuscripts; namely, Geoff Grossel, Chaganti Kalavati, Egil Karlsbakk, Cecile Reed, Vladimir Voronin, and Jinyong Zhang. Some line drawings were provided by Pavla Bartošová-Sojková and Alena Kodádková (S. clini and S. limnocapitis), and Mark Freeman (S. lycodi), and we thank them greatly for these high quality figures.

Funding

This work was partially supported by funding from the Chinese Natural Sciences Fund (no. 31471980) to YZ.

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  1. SUNY-ESF, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Environmental and Forest Biology, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Christopher M. Whipps

  2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Animal Biology, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, 400047, China

    Yuanjun Zhao

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Correspondence to Christopher M. Whipps.

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Whipps, C.M., Zhao, Y. Synopsis of the species of the genus Sphaeromyxa Thélohan, 1892 (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida: Variisporina: Sphaeromyxidae). Syst Parasitol 92, 81–99 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-015-9591-y

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