A redescription of Calicotyle australis Johnston, 1934 (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from a new host, Rhinobatos batillum (Batiformes: Rhinobatidae), from Moreton Bay, Queensland

Calicotyle australis Johnston, 1934 is reported from a new host species, the common shovel-nosed ray, Rhinobatos batillum, caught in Moreton Bay, Queensland. The parasite inhabits the cloaca and rectum (microhabitat in type host, Trygonorhina fasciata, unknown): parasites were also found on the ventral skin of R. batillum, but these specimens may have migrated to this site after the death of the host. Since Johnston's description was based on a single specimen, the anatomy of the parasite has been redescribed and the validity of the species established. This redescription has determined the presence of diffuse ocellar pigment granules and the absence of marginal hooklets. C. australis is distinguished from its closest relatives, C. kroyeri Diesing, 1850 and C. mitsukurii Goto, 1894, by the shape and length of the penis-tube. The so-called 'oral sucker' in some Calicotyle species is discussed.