Unravelling the diversity ofDubois, 1936 (Trematoda: Diplostomidae) in fish-eating birds from the Neotropical region of Mexico, with the description of a new species.

Abstract

Adults of the genus, Dubois, 1936 are parasites of fish-eating birds, mainly of the family Ardeidae, and are globally distributed. The genus currently comprises 35 species, although recent molecular evidence has shown that the diversity of the genus is underestimated since several candidate species have been recognized. In the Neotropical region of Mexico, at least 6lineages have been detected with metacercaria stages recovered from unrelated fish hosts. Here, we obtained adult specimens offrom 6 fish-eating birds representing 2 families (,,,– Ardeidae, andand– Lariidae) from 4 localities in southern Mexico. Specimens were sequenced for 2 nuclear (28S and ITS1–5.8S–ITS2) and 1 mitochondrial () molecular marker. Phylogenetic analyses allowed us to link metacercariae and adult specimens and recognized a lineage, which was described morphologically. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by its prosoma morphology and body size; this is the first described species in the Neotropical region of Mexico. Additionally, new host and locality records forandare presented, expanding their geographical distribution range in the Americas.