REDESCRIPTION OF CONTRACAECUM VITTATI KHAN AND BEGUM, 1971 FROM SIX NEW HOST FISHES FROM ANDHRA PRADESH
B. BHARATHA LAKSHMI *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, ANDHRA UNIVERSITY, WALTAIR-530003, INDIA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Contracaecum vitati Khan and Begum, 1971 obtained from seven hosts Pennehia macrophthalmus (Bleeker), Thryssa mystax (Schneider), Johnius belangeri (Cuvier), Upeneus sulphureus (Cuvier), Upeneus vittatus (Forskal), Channa punctatus (Bloch) and Nemipterus mesoprion (Bloch) from Visakhapatnam and Kakinada (A.P.) is redescribed. C. vitati is originally reported from the body cavity of Upeneus vittatus from Karachi, Khan and Begum, 1971 recovered numerous females. The description was based on females only. This is the first report of this species from India and second outside India. Six new hosts and new localities are recorded. The present specimens tally with the characters of Contracaecum vitati Khan and Begum, 1971. A detailed description of the specimens have been furnished. A detailed examination allowed us to consider the present specimens as C. vitati, Khan and Begum, 1971.