Abstract
Madapolystoma n. g. (Monogenea, Polystomatidae), is proposed for a new genus of polystomatid from the urinary bladder of the Malagasy poison frogs of the genus Mantella (family Mantellidae), with the description of one new species. This is the second anuran polystome to be described from Madagascar. The parasites are small with a maximum body length of less than 3 mm. The two gut caeca have a few diverticulae but no prehaptoral anastomoses and are confluent posteriorly. The haptor bears six well-developed suckers and one pair of hamuli. A single small ovary lies in mid-body while the single follicular testis lies posteriorly in the body. Vaginae are present. The new genus is unique among all known polystomes in that it apparently has no free-swimming ciliated larvae but instead is characterized by advanced intra-uterine development with larvae developing hamuli and even suckers while still in utero. Based on molecular phylogenetic data, the closest relative of Madapolystoma is the genus Eupolystoma from Africa. Madagascar has a very diverse anuran fauna with a 100% level of endemicity at the species level, and more Madapolystoma species from other mantellid hosts await description.
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