Morphological and genetic analysis of Zhao . 2015 and sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) from the East China Sea.

We describe Zhao . 2015 and sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) from the East China Sea. was found in the gallbladders of 3/13 specimens of its type host, Temminck and Schlegel 1846 (Aulopiformes). Myxospore characters were consistent with the original description to which we have added small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene data. sp. nov. was found in gallbladders of 3/13 specimens of . and 5/13 specimens of Jordan and Snyder 1901 (Ophidiiformes). Mature myxospores of sp. nov. were crescentic in sutural view, with a deeply concave posterior angle 142.2±8.2° (125.8‒158.2°) and an arched anterior side. Shell valves were smooth and equal, 20.9±1.9 (17.3‒24.7) µm thick and 9.2±0.5 (8.1‒9.9) µm long, and joined at a straight, thin sutural plane passing between two nematocysts (polar capsules). The nematocysts were equal-sized, pyriform, 2.6±0.2 (2.4‒2.9) µm long and 2.7±0.2 (2.4‒3.3) µm wide, with their tapered ends pointed toward each other, located in the anterior third of the spore. Sequences of the SSU rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 showed that the isolates of sp. nov. obtained from and were identical. The SSU rRNA gene sequence of sp. nov. was distinct from all known myxosporeans and clustered with , and then with Kalatzis, Kokkari and Katharios 2013, both of which also infect Aulopiformes fishes.