Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies of nematode specimens (males and mature females) collected from the ovary of groupers (Serranidae, Perciformes) in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia (near Tunis and Sfax), two gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) are reported: Philometra inexpectata n. sp. from the mottled grouper Mycteroperca rubra and P. jordanoi (López-Neyra, 1951) from the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus. Identification of both fish species was confirmed by molecular barcoding. The new species is mainly characterized by the length of equally long spicules (147-165 μm), the gubernaculum (63-93 μm long) bearing at the tip two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field, a V-shaped mound on the male caudal extremity, the presence of a pair of large caudal papillae located posterior to the cloaca and by the body length of the males (1.97-2.43 mm). Philometra inexpectata n. sp. is the fifth known gonad-infecting philometrid species parasitizing serranid fishes in the Mediterranean region. The males of P. jordanoi were examined by scanning electron microscopy for the first time; this detailed study revealed some new taxonomically important morphological features, such as the number and arrangement of cephalic and caudal papillae, presence of amphids and phasmids and mainly the lamellate structures at the posterior end of the gubernaculum. A key to gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitic in serranid fishes is provided.

Sur la base d’études, au microscope photonique et électronique, de spécimens de nématodes (mâles et femelles mûres) recueillis dans les ovaires de mérous (Serranidae, Perciformes) de la mer Méditerranée au large de la Tunisie (près de Tunis et Sfax), deux espèces de Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) parasites de gonades sont signalées : Philometra inexpectata n. sp. du mérou royal Mycteroperca rubra et P. jordanoi (López-Neyra, 1951) du mérou noir Epinephelus marginatus. L’identification des deux espèces de poissons a été confirmée par les codes-barres moléculaires. La nouvelle espèce est caractérisée principalement par la longueur des spicules (147-165 μm), de tailles égales, le gubernaculum (63-93 μm de long) portant à sa pointe deux parties lamellaires dorsolatérales séparées l’une de l’autre par un champ médian lisse, une bosse en forme de V sur l’extrémité caudale du mâle, la présence d’une paire de grandes papilles caudales situées en arrière du cloaque et par la longueur du corps des mâles (1.97-2.43 mm). Philometra inexpectata n. sp. est la cinquième espèce de Philometridae des gonades de poissons Serranidae dans la région méditerranéenne. Les mâles de P. jordanoi ont été examinés par microscopie électronique à balayage pour la première fois ; cette étude détaillée a révélé quelques nouvelles caractéristiques morphologiques taxinomiquement importantes, telles que le nombre et la disposition des papilles céphaliques et caudales, la présence d’amphides et de phasmides et principalement les structures lamellaires à l’extrémité postérieure du gubernaculum. Une clé des espèces de Philometra parasites des poissons Serranidae est fournie.

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Branišovská 31 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

ISYEB Institut Systématique Évolution Biodiversité UMR7205 CNRS EPHE MNHN UPMC Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle Sorbonne Universités CP51 55 Rue Buffon 75231 Paris cedex 05 France

Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Écosystèmes Aquatiques Faculté des Sciences de Sfax Université de Sfax BP 1171 3038 Sfax Tunisia

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