incorrect to us^for although the attaching disc of the only species, B. 

 trachinoti (MacCallum, 1921), strongly resembles the microcotylid-type, 

 the discovery of a whole series of individuals of this species on Trachinotus 

 carolinus (L. ) in the Gulf of Mexico U.S.A. speaks for the independence of 

 this species and genus which is apparently related to Anthocotylidae. 



6. Family Protomicrocotylidae Poche, 1925. p. 444 



(Fig. 89) 



Discocotylinea, having middle sizes. The attaching apparatus 

 consists of a disc, sharply delimited from the body which bears one pair of 

 edge hooks, 2 pairs of middle hooks and 4-6 weakly developed clamps of 

 discocotylid-type lying on the ventral side of the posterior end of the body 

 in one or two vertical rows. The vaginal duct is single, opening outwardly 

 from the right intestinal trunk. The remaining characteristics are sinnilar 

 to the ones of Microcotylidae. 



Parasites of marine Perciformes (Carangidae and Sciaenidae). 

 In addition to that they are indicated for Clupeiformes, undoubtedly 

 erroneously (see page 228). 



Type genus, Protomicrocotyle Johnston and Tiegs, 1922. 



In addition to the type genus, two more genera- -Bilaterocotyle 

 Chauhan, 1945 and Lethacotyle Manter and Prince, 1953, enter into the 

 composition of the family. 



This family appears nnysterious to us in a number of relations. 

 We were not able to obtain the material and consequently the subsequent 

 analysis is based on rather incomplete and apparently not very accurate 

 descriptions of two genera of Protomicrocotyle^ --P. mirabilis MacCallum, 



_ 



We did not have the description of P. celebensis Yamaguti, 1953. 



1918 and P. pacifica Meserve, 1938, the only species of BilaterQcotyle --B. 

 chirocentrosus Chauhan, 1945, and Lethacotyle fijiensis Manter and Prince, 

 1953, First of all, what is most obvious is tlie considerable similarity between 

 P. pacifica, B. chirocentrosus, and L. fijiensis , greater than between the 

 first of these species and P. mirabilis. As regards such an important 

 characteristic as testes, which judging by the data of MacCallum lie behind 

 the ovary in the latter species, whereas in the first three they are in 

 front of it. If the data of MacCallum are not erroneous it is possible that 

 we will have to raise the question of dividing the genus Protomicrocotyle 

 into two. 



532 



