KORONACANTHA-MEXICANA N-GEN, N-SP (ACANTHOCEPHALA, ILLIOSENTIDAE) FROM MARINE FISHES IN CHAMELA BAY, JALISCO, MEXICOE

A new species and genus of Acanthocephala is described based on specim ens found in the intestine of Anisotremus interruptus (Gill, 1862): Ha emulon sexfasciatum Gill, 1863, Haemulon scudderi Gill, 1863, Pomadasy s leuciscus (Gunther, 1864), and Eugerres sp. Jordan and Evermann, 192 7, from the marine waters of Chamela Bay, Jalisco, Mexico. Koronacanth a mexicana n. sp. is characterized by having an elongate proboscis wit h a heavy cuticle, cuticular body spines, and 8 cement glands, indicat ing that it should be assigned to the Illiosentidae Golvan, 1960. The genus Koronacantha n. gen. can be distinguished from other members of the family by the possession of (1) a row of heavy, strongly recurved proboscis hooks in the shape of an inverted apostrophe with roots that are simple but exaggerated in size and a small hook blade, occurring just anterior to a posteriormost comblike group of 4 or 5 small, close -set hooks, (2) cerebral ganglion near middle of proboscis receptacle, and (3) paired sensory papillae at mid-neck.