In the present study, Spinitectus pentapapillae n. sp. of the genus spinitectus
Fourment, 1883, is described by light and scanning electron microscopy from the
common carp, Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 from the fish farms in Sohag, Egypt. It
is differentiated from the known members of the group B (this group has between 20
and 40 spines in the first row) of the genus Spinitectus of African freshwater fishes in
regarding to the appearance of the spines in the first six rovv, the number of spines in
the first rows, the number of spines in the first row, the number of post-cloacal
papillae, the spicules ratio and the distance from the vulva to the anus. The present
new species is closest to S. moraveci Boomker and Puylaert, 1994, in having the
spines of the first six rows raised, giving the anterior region an inflated appearance.
Spinitectus pentapapillae differs from S. moraveci in having 24-28 spines in the first
row, five pairs of post-cloacal papillae, a short left spicule, a short distance from the
vulva and anus and a generally small body size. The common carp represents a new
host recorded for the genus spinitectus in Africa.