A new species of Aponurus looss, 1907 (Digenea : Lecithasteridae) in butterflyfishes (Perciformes : Chaetodontidae) from New Caledonia

Aponurus chelebesoi n. sp. is described from Chaetodon auriga, C. citrinell us, C. ephippium, C. flavirostris, C. lineolatus, C. melannotus, C. mertens ii, C. pelewensis, C. lunulatus, C. vagabundus, Coradion altivelis, Forcipi ger flavissimus, Heniochus acuminatus, H. chrysostomus and H. monoceros fro m the southern coast of New Caledonia. It is distinguished from most specie s in the genera Aponurus (synonym Brachadena) and Lecithophyllum by its cla viform (as opposed to oval to subglobular) vitelline lobes. Three species, A. pyriformis, Lecithophyllum vogeae and Brachadena cheilonis, have similar claviform vitelline lobes, but differ from A. chelebesoi in their tandem t estes and the distinct egg-size.