An integrative taxonomy study reveals a rare new species of the genus Creptotrema (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) in an endangered frog in South America

Abstract

During an ecological study with a near-endangered anuran in Brazil, the Schmidt's Spinythumb frog, <i>Crossodactylus schmidti</i> Gallardo, 1961, we were given a chance to analyze the gastrointestinal tract of a few individuals for parasites. In this paper, we describe a new species of an allocreadiid trematode of the genus <i>Creptotrema</i> Travassos, Artigas &amp; Pereira, 1928, which possesses a unique trait among allocreadiids (i.e., a bivalve shell-like muscular structure at the opening of the ventral sucker); the new species represents the fourth species of allocreadiid trematode parasitizing amphibians. Besides, the new species is distinguished from other congeners by the combination of characters such as the body size, ventral sucker size, cirrus-sac size, and by having small eggs. DNA sequences through the 28S rDNA and COI mtDNA further corroborated the distinction of the new species. Phylogenetic analyses placed the newly generated sequences in a monophyletic clade together with all other sequenced species of <i>Creptotrema.</i> Genetic divergences between the new species and other <i>Creptotrema</i> spp. varied from 2.0 to 4.2% for 28S rDNA, and 15.1 to 16.8% for COI mtDNA, providing robust validation for the recognition of the new species. Even though allocreadiids are mainly parasites of freshwater fishes, our results confirm anurans as hosts of trematodes of this family. Additionally, we propose the reallocation of <i>Auriculostoma ocloya</i> Liquin, Gilardoni, Cremonte, Saravia, Cristóbal &amp; Davies, 2022 to the genus <i>Creptotrema.</i> This study increases the known diversity of allocreadiids and contributes to our understanding of their evolutionary relationships, host-parasite relationships, and biogeographic history.