taxonID	type	description	language	source
03F787B6AC10D63EF8F6F0F4FE421D95.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Faustula keksooni (MacCallum, 1918) Poche, 1926 (Syn. Eurema keksooni MacCallum, 1918 nec Hübner, 1820) Museum specimen: USNM 1337171. Emended diagnosis: Body small, oval, elliptical (elongate-oval) to lingulate (see fig. 43 of McCallum 1918 and fig. 3 of Price 1938), spinose (type species F. keksooni originally described as aspinose, but apparently body spines were lost during fixation). Forebody occupies less than one-half of body length. Oral sucker subterminal, sometimes approaching terminal. Ventral sucker muscular, about same size to slightly larger than oral sucker, located some distance anterior to midlevel of body. Prepharynx short to absent. Pharynx small, muscular, oval to elliptical, somewhat globular. Esophagus relatively long. Intestinal bifurcation in forebody about one-half distance from anterior end and ventral sucker or slightly more posterior, well anterior to midlevel of body. Ceca relatively short, blind, terminate about midlevel of body. Testes 2, entire, symmetrical (opposite, side by side) or nearly so, largely intercecal, located about level of ventral sucker or slightly more posterior. Intertesticular space generally wide. Cirrus sac generally claviform (somewhat retort-shaped in F. keksooni, may be a product of the poor condition of the single specimen used to establish the species), encloses short invaginable cirrus (documented in some species); short ejaculatory duct with few prostatic glands that surround it posteriorly; short pars prostatica and long tubular seminal vesicle that spirals through posterior two-thirds of cirrus sac, at least partially embedded in numerous large glandular cells. Genital pore median to somewhat submedian, often posterior to intestinal bifurcation, sometimes bifurcal or prebifurcal. Genital atrium small, sometimes indistinct. Ovary multilobate (8 or more distinct lobes), usually slightly submedian, located short distance posterior to testes and ventral sucker, far removed from the posterior extremity, larger than either. Laurer’s canal present, relatively long, opens dorsally close to posterior extremity where known. Canalicular seminal receptacle present, formed as dilation of proximal end of Laurer’s canal where documented. Vitelline follicles distributed in 2 clusters, 1 on each side of body from about level of intestinal bifurcation or somewhat more anterior to about level of ovary or somewhat more posterior. Uterus occupies bulk of hindbody, extends from level of ovary posteriorly to near posterior extremity. Eggs numerous, relatively small, operculate. Excretory vesicle V-shaped, may approach Y-shaped with short stem; excretory arms reach anterior to about level of posterior margin of pharynx; excretory pore terminal to somewhat dorsal. Most commonly intestinal parasites of clupeid fishes in India (rivers) and northern Indian Ocean.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC10D63EF8F6F0F4FE421D95.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Despite the damage apparent in the specimen representing the type species (“ Specimen was mutilated, anterior end being torn off and the body partly crushed. The crushing apparently resulted from over flattening and was sufficient to rupture the intestinal ceca and force a part of the ingesta into the tissues, thereby causing outpocketings which were regarded by McCallum as openings of vaginae ” [see pp. 9 – 10 of Price 1938;] and generally confirmed in examination of the type specimen by NOD in the present study), NOD also noted that the specimen had been rolled. However, despite the apparent fixation-induced variability of many specimens used to describe subsequent species, some species are easily assigned to Faustula based on morphology (e. g., F. basiri [see fig. 1 of Hafeezullah & Siddiqi 1970], F. brevichrus [see fig. 1 of Srivastava 1935], and F. gangetica [see fig. 2 of Srivastava 1935 and fig. 1 of Garner et al. 2019]). Of these 3 species, we consider F. gangetica to be the most fully documented species.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC14D63AF8F6F7F0FB061915.taxon	description	(Fig. 1; forebody of type species reconstructed based on the remaining posterior aspect of the oral sucker, the general appearance of the forebody in the type specimen and to some extent the basic morphology of known species of Faustula).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC14D63AF8F6F7F0FB061915.taxon	materials_examined	Type host: Gills of a small unspotted ray, most likely Potamotrygon motoro (Müller & Henle) (Potamotrygonidae). Type locality: Off Singapore.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC14D63AF8F6F7F0FB061915.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Faustula keksooni differs from all other described species in the genus by having a larger body (2,800 × 1,200), a larger ventral sucker (285; 10 % of body length), a longer cirrus sac (640; 23 %), a wider ovary (380), wider testes (mean width 255), a longer postovarian space (1,000; 36 %) and the uterus ends well short of the posterior extremity. Given the larger body size of the type specimen, some measurements relative to body length show similar morphometric percentages and sometimes there are similarities in morphometric ratios (see Table 1). The combination of a median or nearly median, postbifurcal genital pore and a cirrus sac that surpasses the ventral sucker posteriorly to some extent is shared only with F. gangetica. Faustula gangetica differs from F. keksooni by having a broadly oval body vs a more lingulate body; more extensive vitelline fields (vitelline follicles distributed from the level of the posterior end of the esophagus to about the midlevel of ovary vs being distributed from just posterior to the level of the intestinal bifurcation to about the midlevel of the testes); a shorter esophagus (160 – 180; 10 – 12 % vs 370; 13 %) and generally larger eggs (16 – 25 × 12 vs 16 – 20 × 9 – 11). MacCallum (1918) noted that Faustula keksooni (as Eurema keksooni MacCallum, 1918) was from the gills; however, the specimen was found at the bottom of the dissecting dish after the gills of the small ray were washed and it may have come from the gullet or mouth. We believe it was likely contamination from a previous autopsy or an accidental infection.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC15D63AF8F6F6F5FB701F89.taxon	description	(Fig. 2)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC15D63AF8F6F6F5FB701F89.taxon	materials_examined	Type host: Toli shad, Tenualosa toli (Valenciennes) (Clupeidae). Type locality: Off Veraval, India.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC15D63AF8F6F6F5FB701F89.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Faustula basiri differs from F. keksooni by having a longer forebody relative to body length (42 – 49 % vs about 30 %); a somewhat longer esophagus (240 – 456; 11 – 18 % of the body length) and a somewhat shorter egg (maximum length 18 vs 20). Faustula basiri somewhat resembles F. gangetica by having a terminal oral sucker (as originally described for both species); relatively long ceca that surpass the testes posteriorly, terminating near the level of the ovary; a median genital pore that opens immediately posterior to the intestinal bifurcation and vitelline fields that are extensively distributed in the lateral fields of the body. Faustula gangetica differs from F. basiri by having a smaller body (1,340 – 1,650 × 790 – 970 vs 2,140 – 2,580 × 1,030 – 1,100); a shorter forebody (410; 30 % of body length vs 912 – 1,158; 42 – 49 %); a shorter esophagus (160 – 180; 10 – 12 % vs 240 – 456; 11 – 18 %); a shorter cirrus sac (360 – 400; 24 – 27 % vs 408 – 528; 19 – 21 %) that surpasses the ventral sucker posteriorly, extending some distance into the hindbody where it approaches the ovary vs being confined to the region from immediately posterior to the intestinal bifurcation to about the anterior margin of the ventral sucker; a shorter postovarian space (355; 26 % vs 660; 30 %) and longer eggs (16 – 25 vs 12 – 18). In the original description of F. basiri the oral sucker is illustrated as being slightly subterminal (see fig. 1 of Hafeezullah & Siddiqi 1970). Although there are some 13 species of Faustula generally recognized, a little-known potential species, Faustula rahemii Al-Daraji, 2004, was described from the intestine of the Hilsa shad, T. ilisha (Syn. C. ilisha), from the Khor Al-Zubair lagoons by Al-Daraji (2004). Mhaisen et al. (2018) included this species in their checklist of parasites from marine fishes from Iraq, but based on the lack of recognition of this species in existing literature and its omission from any records of being synonymized with other species of Faustula, these authors suggested that it likely should be considered an invalid species. Our literature search of species of Faustula also yielded no published evidence of recognition of this species beyond Mhaisen et al. (2018) and the related information provided by these authors. Al- Daraji (2004) separated F. rahemii from all other species based on the location of the cirrus sac being preacetabular. However, as Mhaisen et al. (2018) pointed out, Al-Daraji (2004) had not compared his species to at least 10 other recognized species. There are 3 similar species like F. rahemii by having the cirrus sac anterior to the ventral sucker: F basiri; F. hilsai as described by Rizvi (1971) and F. clupeae. Unlike F. clupeae, both F basiri and F. hilsai are also like F. rahemii by having unusually extensive vitelline fields that extend from about the level of the esophagus to near the level of the ovary and the ovary positioned some distance posterior to the ventral sucker; F. hilsai has been synonymized with F. basiri (e. g., see WoRMS 2021 a). Al-Daraji (2004) recognized the similarities between F. basiri and F. rahemii and provided a comparative table for these two species, which like Table 1 herein, does not conclusively distinguish F. rahemii. In the comparative table Al-Daraji (2004) further asserts that F. rahemii differs from F. basiri by having the ventral sucker “ equal or larger than oral sucker ”; however, the sucker ratios of these 2 species are similar (1: 0.91 – 1: 0.97 vs 1: 0.87 – 1: 0.90, respectively), and both have the ventral sucker smaller than the oral sucker. The genital pore of F. rahemii was illustrated in fig. 1 by Al-Daraji (2004) as being located at the level of the anterior extent of the intestinal bifurcation, which is most similar to F. clupeae. The specimens of F. rahemii used in this description were fixed between 2 microscope slides and given that species of Faustula tend to be somewhat fragile and susceptible to possible fixation-induced alterations of some characteristics, the subtle difference in the position of the genital pore in F. rahemii compared to that in F. basiri (just posterior to the intestinal bifurcation) may not represent a creditable difference. Faustula rahemii is most similar to F. basiri and was described from T. ilisha, the most common fish wherein species of Faustula have been reported from generally the same geographic region, and it is our opinion it should be synonymized with F. basiri.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1AD635F8F6F7F0FCF51AA6.taxon	description	(Fig. 3)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1AD635F8F6F7F0FCF51AA6.taxon	materials_examined	Type host: Hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) (Clupeidae). Type locality: India (freshwater).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1AD635F8F6F7F0FCF51AA6.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Faustula brevichrus differs from all other species in the genus by having a bifurcal genital pore. It further differs from F. keksooni by having a narrower pharynx (90 – 110; 6 – 7 % of body length vs 132; 5 %) and a shorter esophagus (120 – 200; 9 – 12 %). Faustula brevichrus is somewhat similar to F. gangetica by having a cirrus sac that surpasses the ventral sucker posteriorly, but F. brevichrus has a subterminal oral sucker; much shorter vitelline fields; a narrower pharynx (90 – 110; 6 – 7 %); a generally smaller oral sucker / pharynx width ratio (maximum of 1: 1.8 vs 1: 2.2); narrower testes (120 vs 160); a longer postovarian space (455; 34 %) and shorter eggs (maximum length 20 vs 25). It is noteworthy that the specimen of F. brevichrus shown in fig. 1 of Strivastava (1935) (dorsal view) appears to have been overly compressed during fixation, which may have altered the position of some structures to some extent (i. e., the ventral sucker is shifted to the left while the cirrus sac is shifted to the right). We consider the position of the genital pore and the position of the cirrus sac to be representative of this species and sufficiently different to retain F. brevichrus in Faustula.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1AD634F8F6F029FC401BB9.taxon	description	(Fig. 4)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1AD634F8F6F029FC401BB9.taxon	materials_examined	Type host: Hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) (Clupeidae). Type locality: India (freshwater).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1AD634F8F6F029FC401BB9.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Faustula clupeae differs from all other species in the genus by having a submedian, prebifurcal genital pore that opens immediately posterior to the posterior margin of the pharynx. It is superficially similar to F. basiri by having a preacetabular cirrus sac, but F. basiri is larger (2,100 – 2,580 × 1,030 – 1,100 vs 1,300 – 1,500 × 700 – 800); the ceca terminate posteriorly short of the posterior extent of the ovary; the oral sucker as originally described as terminal; the forebody is longer (912 – 1,158; 42 – 49 % vs 475; 36 %); the oral sucker / pharynx width ratio is larger (1: 1.8 – 1: 2.0 vs 1: 1.4 – 1: 1.6); the ventral / oral sucker width ratio is smaller (1: 0.9 – 1: 1.1 vs 1: 1.1 – 1: 1.3); the genital pore is postbifurcal and the vitelline fields are longer. Although F. clupeae is somewhat similar to F. brevichrus in basic morphology (see Table 1) and both were described by Srivastava (1935) from the same host species (Hilsa shad) from freshwater in India, F. clupeae differs from F. brevichrus by having a shorter esophagus (80 – 100; 6 – 7 % of body length vs 120 – 200; 9 – 12 %); a somewhat smaller oral sucker / pharynx width ratio (1: 1.4 – 1: 1.6 vs 1: 1.6 – 1: 1.8); a submedian genital pore that is distinctly prebifurcal, opening near the level of the posterior end of the pharynx vs being median and located at the level of the anterior extent of the intestinal bifurcation; a shorter cirrus sac (about 280; 19 % vs 310 – 360; 21 – 24 %); the cirrus sac positioned from near the level of the posterior end of the pharynx to the anterior margin of the ventral sucker or slightly more posteriorly vs extending posteriorly from about the level of the intestinal bifurcation to about the level of the posterior margin of the ventral sucker or slightly more posteriorly; the ovary immediately posterior to the ventral sucker vs being some distance posterior to it and the ceca in F. clupeae are longer terminating posteriorly near the level of the posterior margin of the ovary rather than about the midlevel of the ovary (see figs. 1 & 4 of Srivastava [1935]). As noted earlier, the specimen of F. brevichrus shown in fig. 1 (dorsal view) appears to have been overly compressed during fixation, which may have altered the position of some structures to some extent (i. e., the ventral sucker is shifted to the left while the cirrus sac is shifted to the right). We consider the combination of the position of the genital pore and the position of the cirrus sac to be representative of these species and sufficiently different amongst them to retain F. basiri, F. brevichrus and F. clupeae as distinct species within Faustula.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1BD634F8F6F359FACA1F19.taxon	description	(Fig. 5)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1BD634F8F6F359FACA1F19.taxon	materials_examined	Type host: Hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) (Clupeidae). Type locality: India (freshwater).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1BD634F8F6F359FACA1F19.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Faustula gangetica is similar to F. brevichrus by having a cirrus sac that surpasses the ventral sucker posteriorly, but primarily differs from F. brevichrus by having a terminal oral sucker (as originally described); a postbifurcal genital pore and longer vitelline fields. Faustula gangetica also is somewhat similar to F. clupeae, but it has a longer esophagus (160 – 180; 11 – 12 %); a somewhat larger oral sucker / pharynx width ratio (1: 1.5 – 1: 2.2); a median, distinctly postbifurcal genital pore; a longer cirrus sac (360 – 400; 24 – 27 %) that surpasses the ventral sucker extending some distance into the intertesticular space of the hindbody to about the level of the anterior extent of the ovary; a shorter postovarian space (about 355; 26 % vs 475; 35 %); larger eggs (16 – 25 × 12 vs 15 × 10); more extensive vitelline fields that extend from the level of the posterior aspect of the esophagus posteriorly to the midlevel of the ovary, terminating at the level of the cecal ends vs extending from about the level of the intestinal bifurcation posteriorly to the midlevel of the testes, terminating at the midlevel of the ceca; somewhat shorter ceca that do not extend posteriorly beyond the midlevel of the ovary and F. gangetica was described as having a terminal oral sucker. It should be noted that in their redescription of F. gangetica Garner et al. (2019) considered the oral sucker to be slightly subterminal. For additional details used to distinguish F. gangetica from other similar species retained in Faustula, see the Remarks sections provided above for F. basiri and F. brevichrus. We propose the following key to accommodate those species we feel should be assigned to Faustula.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC19D631F8F6F6D0FCA61949.taxon	description	(Fig. 6)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC19D631F8F6F6D0FCA61949.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Gobifaustula qikouensis (Qiu & Li in Shen & Qiu, 1995) n. comb. Type and only species. (Syn. Faustula qikouensis Qiu & Li in Shen & Qiu, 1995)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC19D631F8F6F6D0FCA61949.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Body small, somewhat pyriform (see fig. 26 of Qiu & Li 1995 in Shen & Qiu 1995); tegument aspinose. Forebody occupies less than one-half of body length. Oral sucker subterminal, muscular, nearly circular, somewhat globular. Ventral sucker muscular, larger than oral sucker, located well anterior to midlevel of body. Prepharynx short to absent. Pharynx small, oval, muscular. Esophagus, simple, relatively long. Intestinal bifurcation largely in forebody immediately anterior to ventral sucker which may overlap posterior aspect of bifurcation and located well anterior to midlevel of body. Ceca relatively short, terminate about midlevel of body. Testes 2, spherical, entire, symmetrical, contiguous on midline of body, located near midlevel of hindbody. Cirrus sac claviform, surpasses ventral sucker posteriorly by short distance; seminal vesicle originally described as saccular but may be bipartite (see fig. 26 of original description by Qiu & Li 1995), occupies slightly more than one-half of cirrus sac; details of cirrus, ejaculatory duct, pars prostatica unknown. Genital pore median or nearly so, immediately anterior to ventral sucker at juncture of esophagus and intestinal bifurcation. Genital atrium unknown. Ovary pretesticular, intercecal, trilobed in form of triangle, located immediately right of and contiguous with left cecum, occupies area from about midlevel of cecum posteriorly to short distance anterior to level of cecal ends. Laurer’s canal unknown. Seminal receptacle contiguous with posterior end of and nestled between posterior 2 lobes of ovary. Vitelline follicles distributed in 2 clusters, 1 on each side of body from about midlevel of ceca or anterior margin of ovary to cecal ends. Uterus occupying bulk of posttesticular space, extends from level of testes to near posterior extremity. Eggs numerous, small, operculate. Excretory vesicle and extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore terminal to somewhat dorsally located. Reported as intestinal parasites of gobiid fishes in freshwater tributaries entering the Yellow Sea.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC19D631F8F6F6D0FCA61949.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The genus is named based on the type of fish (goby; Latin gobio) infected by Gobifaustula qikouensis and its similarities to members of the Faustulidae (Faustula).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC19D631F8F6F6D0FCA61949.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Faustula qikouensis (= G. qikouensis) was described from the Asian freshwater goby, S. ommaturus (Perciformes: Gobiidae), from near the mouth of a river that opens into the Bo-Hai Sea (considered to be the more inland portions of the Yellow Sea of China). It is similar to species of Faustula by having relatively small suckers where the ventral sucker is slightly larger than the oral sucker; gonads that are in the hindbody; a uterus that reaches posterior beyond the testes, mainly concentrated in the hindbody; a median to slightly submedian genital pore; a cirrus sac that overreaches the ventral sucker, surpassing it by a short distance posteriorly and a ventral sucker that is not close to the posterior extremity (located near the posterior aspect of the anterior one-third of body). It differs from species of Faustula by having a somewhat pyriform, aspinose body that is markedly tapered anteriorly and broadly rounded posteriorly; a ventral sucker that overlaps the intestinal bifurcation anteriorly; a relatively long hindbody (approximately 60 % of the body length); side by side, contiguous testes that are located near the midlevel of the hindbody well posterior to the ventral sucker; a genital pore opening anterior to the intestinal bifurcation near the posterior end of the esophagus; a cirrus sac that encloses a bipartite seminal vesicle; vitelline fields that are in 2 clusters composed of relatively few follicles (6 – 7 / side) that are confined to the middle one-third on each side of the body and a pretesticular, trilobed ovary. Bray (2008 b) suggested that this species does not belong in Faustula and probably should be transferred to Bacciger Nicoll, 1914; however, only species of Allofellodistomum Yamaguti, 1971; Baccigeroides Dutta, 1995; Echinobreviceca Dronen, Blend & McEachran, 1994; Paradiscogaster Yamaguti, 1934; Triganocryptus Martin, 1958; and Yamagutia Srivistava, 1937 have a pretesticular ovary, but none of these genera contain species where the ovary is lobed. Based largely on the combination of the above characteristics, especially the definitely trilobed, pretesticular ovary and a bipartite seminal vesicle, we feel that F. qikouensis is most similar to species of Baccigeroides. Since no species assigned to Baccigeroides as currently diagnosed has a lobed pretesticular ovary, we propose the erection of Gobifaustula to support Gobifaustula qikouensis (Syn. F. qikouensis) (see fig. 26 of Qiu & Li 1995 in Shen & Qiu 1995).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1ED630F8F6F609FE1919A1.taxon	description	(Fig. 7)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1ED630F8F6F609FE1919A1.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Schellitrema gasterostei (Schell, 1973) n. comb. Type and only species. (Syn. Faustula gasterostei Schell, 1973) Museum specimens: Holotype USNM 1368020.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1ED630F8F6F609FE1919A1.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Body relatively small, somewhat biconic-shaped; anterior extremity broadly rounded, followed by short, narrower isthmus-like neck region; maximum width near midlevel of body; posterior end of body relatively extensive, gradually tapers to relatively rounded point; tegument aspinose. Forebody occupies less than onehalf of body length, no obvious concentric rings present on ventral surface. Oral sucker terminal, bowl-shaped. Ventral sucker pre-equatorial, muscular, somewhat smaller than oral sucker, slightly wider than long. Prepharynx absent. Pharynx elliptical, muscular. Esophagus relatively short. Intestinal bifurcation short distance anterior to ventral sucker. Ceca relatively long, terminate about two-thirds of distance down body from anterior end. Testes 2, multilobed, symmetrical, mainly intercecal, at midlevel of body short distance posterior to ventral sucker. Cirrus sac clavate, median, overlaps ventral sucker dorsally, surpasses it posteriorly by short distance; sac encloses cirrus, moderately long ejaculatory duct with few prostatic glands, short pars prostatica and relatively long, tubular to nearly saccate, unipartite seminal vesicle. Genital pore postbifurcal, immediately anterior to ventral sucker on midline of body. Ovary multilobed, immediately posttesticular on midline of body. Vitellarium in 2 compact clusters, 1 on each side, posterolateral to ventral sucker. Uterus largely posterior to testes, fills most of posttesticular space. Metraterm weakly developed. Excretory vesicle V-shaped, excretory arms extend to level of pharynx. Intestinal parasite of marine teleosts (three-spine stickleback, G. aculeatus Linnaeus [Gasterosteidae]; only reported host) off west coast of USA.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1ED630F8F6F609FE1919A1.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The genus is named in honor of the late Dr. Stuart Schell (Schelli) in recognition of his many contributions to the study of parasitic helminths and his original description of F. gasterostei (= Schellitrema gasterostei) within the faustulid-like trematodes (trema).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1ED630F8F6F609FE1919A1.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Schellitrema gasterostei has a median genital pore, located immediately anterior to the ventral sucker; a cirrus sac; the ovary immediately posterior to the testes in the hindbody; an unarmed ejaculatory duct and metraterm; testes located immediately posterior to the ventral sucker in the hindbody; and this species is parasitic in fish suggesting placement in the Faustulidae. It is similar to species of Faustula by having a ventral sucker that is near the anterior one-third of body; a median genital pore that opens immediately anterior to the ventral sucker and just posterior to the intestinal bifurcation; a cirrus sac that dorsally overreaches the ventral sucker along the midline of the body and surpasses the ventral sucker posteriorly by a short distance; a posttesticular, distinctly multilobed ovary (composed of some 8 lobes); and a uterus that is posttesticular and largely in the hindbody. Schellitrema gasterostei (Syn. F. gasterostei) was described from the three-spined stickleback, G. aculeatus (Gasterosteidae), from Puget Sound, Washington, USA. Unlike species of Faustula, this species has a distinctive, irregularly elliptical, aspinose body with a large terminal oral sucker; a narrower isthmus-like forebody; a broad midlevel region; a tapering, relatively long hindbody (approximately 60 % of the body length); a ventral sucker that is smaller than the oral sucker (111 – 135 vs 149 – 180); a relatively narrow, clavate cirrus sac; multilobed testes that are in the hindbody and vitelline fields that are in 2 small compact groups, composed of relatively few follicles and mostly mid- to postacetabular being confined to the midlevel of the body or slightly more anteriorly. We agree with Bray (2008) that this species should not be assigned to Faustula. Bray (2008) suggested the possible assignment of this species to Pronoprymna Poche, 1926; however, S. gasterostei has an extensively mutilobed ovary rather than the more typical trilobed ovary as described for species of Pronoprymna and the stickleback is an unusual fish host as members of the genus are generally intestinal parasites of clupeiforms. Although it is entirely possible this species does not belong in the Faustulidae, based on the information available we propose Schellitrema to accommodate this unusual species, Schellitrema gasterostei (Schell, 1973) (see type species description of F. gasterostei [= S. gasterostei] and fig. 4 of Schell 1973). Of the 13 previous recognized species assigned to Faustula (WoRMS 2021 a), there are 3 species described in clupeiform fishes from the Ganges River (River Ganga), India that appear to represent undescribed genera: Gangafaustula makundai n. gen., n. comb., Lingulitrema hilsai n. gen., n. comb. and Varanasifaustula indica n. gen., n. comb. There are a number of characteristics that indicate that these 3 species represent separate genera and should not be retained in Faustula. The most obvious difference is that species of Faustula have a distinctive cirrus apparatus wherein there is a short, usually thick-walled cirrus; a relatively short tubular to chamber-like pars prostatica and a seminal vesicle composed of an elongate, upper narrow canal spiraling throughout the middle onethird of the cirrus sac usually containing minimal amounts of sperm terminating in a wider, more oval, chamber-like sac at the posterior extreme of the cirrus sac containing the bulk of the sperm (see the redescription of F. gangetica by Garner et al. 2019; fig. 3).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1FD633F8F6F06EFBEE1D95.taxon	description	(Fig. 8)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1FD633F8F6F06EFBEE1D95.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Gangafaustula makundai (Agarwal & Verma, 1981) n. comb. Type and only species. (Syn. Faustula makundai Agarwal & Verma, 1981)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1FD633F8F6F06EFBEE1D95.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Body small, broadly elliptical to somewhat pyriform; anterior extremity markedly tapered to form relatively narrow end; posterior extremity more broadly tapered to form a bluntly pointed end; tegument aspinose. Forebody occupies less than one-half of body length. Oral sucker muscular, globose, somewhat subterminal. Ventral sucker muscular, globose, near midlevel of body, slightly smaller than oral sucker. Prepharynx absent. Pharynx elliptical (elongate-spherical), muscular. Esophagus relatively short. Intestinal bifurcation about midway between suckers. Ceca short, terminate posterior to midlevel of body. Testes 2, entire, symmetrical, near midlevel of body; anterior extent may overlap midlevel of anterior aspect of ventral sucker. Cirrus sac claviform to retort-shaped, anterior one-third proceeds across body from about level of anterior one-third of left cecum to about midline of body, curves posteriorly and slightly overlaps right margin of ventral sucker, terminates about level of posterior margin of ventral sucker or slightly more posteriorly; sac encloses short, narrow ejaculatory duct, modest tubular pars prostatica and relatively large, saccate, naked (not surrounded by glandular cells) seminal vesicle; no large glandular cells apparent around pars prostatica or upper aspect of seminal vesicle. Genital pore immediately postbifurcal, distinctly submedian, sinistral, opens just short of midway between midline of body and body wall. Ovary with 4 lobes, median, anterior one-half occupies about posterior one-third of intertesticular space. Seminal receptacle immediately posterolateral of ovary. Uterus largely posterior to gonads, filling most of posttesticular space. Vitellarium composed of few (approximately 6 – 10), relatively large follicles linearly organized near lateral margins of body from about level of posterior margin of intestinal bifurcation nearly to posterior margin of testes. Eggs small, operculated. Excretory vesicle V-shaped, extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore nearly terminal. Reported as intestinal parasite of species of clupeid fishes in the Ganges River (River Ganga), India.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1FD633F8F6F06EFBEE1D95.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The genus is named after the river in India where the type species was originally collected (“ Ganga ”) and its probable assignment within the faustulid trematodes (Faustula).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1FD633F8F6F06EFBEE1D95.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Gangafaustula makundai is similar to species of Faustula by having ceca that are relatively short, terminating at about the level of the posterior margin of the testes or slightly more posterior; a submedian, claviform cirrus sac that lies along the left margin of the ventral sucker, sometimes overlapping it to some extent dorsally and terminating at about the level of the posterior margin of the sucker; symmetrical testes that overlap the posterior end of the ventral sucker laterally to some extent; a median or nearly so, lobed ovary that is primarily posttesticular, but that may extend anteriorly into the posterior aspect of the intertesticular space to some extent and a uterus that is largely posttesticular and mainly in the hindbody. Gangafaustula makundai differs from species of Faustula by having the ventral sucker somewhat smaller than the oral sucker and more posteriorly positioned about the midlevel of the body; a simple saccate seminal vesicle where large glandular cells are not apparent in the cirrus sac vs a winding tubular seminal vesicle that is at least partially embedded in large glandular cells; a distinctly submedian genital pore; few (6 – 10 / side), large vitelline follicles that are linearly arranged in the lateral fields, 1 line on each side of the body and restricted to the region from the level of the posterior margin of the intestinal bifurcation to near the level of the posterior margin of the testes vs follicles being relatively small, more numerous and arranged in compact masses where their anterior extent surpasses the intestinal bifurcation anteriorly being distributed from about the midlevel of the esophagus to the anterior aspect of the posttesticular space of the hindbody or more posteriorly; gonads that are located posterior to the midlevel of the body and an ovary with 4 lobes vs 8 or more lobes as seen in species in the genus (e. g., F. basiri, F. brevichrus, F. keksooni).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1CD62DF8F6F160FC411BB9.taxon	description	(Fig. 9)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1CD62DF8F6F160FC411BB9.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Lingulitrema hilsai (Kumar & Agarwal, 1984) n. comb. Type and only species. (Syn. Faustula hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1CD62DF8F6F160FC411BB9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Body lingulate, anterior extremity broadens posteriorly, widest at one-quarter of distance from anterior end, gradually narrows posterior to midlevel of body to form rounded posterior end; tegument aspinose. Forebody occupies less than one-half of body length. Oral sucker described as terminal; shown as subterminal in fig. 2 A of Kumar & Agarwal (1984). Ventral sucker muscular, spherical to round, anterior to midlevel of body, noticeably larger than oral sucker. Prepharynx absent. Pharynx muscular, elliptical to round. Esophagus relatively short to moderately long. Intestinal bifurcation about midway between pharynx and ventral sucker. Ceca relatively long, surpass midlevel of body posteriorly. Testes 2, entire, symmetrical, near midlevel of body. Cirrus sac claviform, lies lateral to right margin of ventral sucker, terminates some distance posterior to it; sac encloses a relatively long, tubular pars prostatica surrounded by numerous prostatic cells and somewhat saccate, laterally-placed S- shaped seminal vesicle. Genital pore postbifurcal, median to submedian (shown as distinctly submedian, near left cecum in figs. 2 A & B of Kumar and Agarwal 1984), sinistral. Ovary posttesticular, slightly sinistral, 5 – 6 ovarian lobes. Laurer’s canal not observed. Seminal receptacle unknown. Uterus largely posterior to gonads, fills most of posttesticular space; metraterm present. Vitellarium, 1 field per side, composed of numerous follicles extensively distributed in lateral fields between midlevel of esophagus and posterior margin of ovary. Eggs small, operculate. Excretory vesicle Y-shaped, extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore terminal.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1CD62DF8F6F160FC411BB9.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The genus is named based on the tongue-shaped body of the type species (Linguli; Latin for tongue) within the faustulid trematodes (trema).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC1CD62DF8F6F160FC411BB9.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Apparently unaware of the description of the original F. hilsai by Rizvi (1971; see fig. 3), Kumar & Agarwal (1984) described a second species which they also named F. hilsai (see figs. 2 A, B, C of Kumar & Agarwal 1984). WoRMS (2021 a) considers F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 a synonym of F. hilsai Rizvi, 1971 (both described from T. ilisha [Syn. Hilsa ilisha] collected from Uttar Pradesh, India); however, although both F. hilsai Rizvi, 1971 and F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 are about the same size (1,450 ‒ 1,850 vs 1,300 ‒ 1,500 long), F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 differs from F. hilsai Rizvi, 1971 by having a shorter forebody (approximately 430, 29 % vs 740 ‒ 910, 49 ‒ 51 % of body length); the testes positioned posterior to the ventral sucker vs flanking the ventral sucker; a longer cirrus sac (340 – 360, 24 – 27 % vs 190 – 250, 13 – 14 %); a median ovary with 5 – 6 ovarian lobes vs a distinctly submedian ovary with 8 or more ovarian lobes; a somewhat larger postovarian space relative to body length (440, 32 % vs 435, 24 %); larger eggs (30 – 50 × 20 – 30 vs 20 × 12) and F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 has more extensive vitelline fields (ranging from the midlevel of the esophagus and surpassing the testes posteriorly, reaching to the level of the posterior aspect of the ovary vs ranging from about the level of the intestinal bifurcation to near the level of the posterior aspect of the testes, but not approaching the level of the ovary). We therefore consider F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 to be distinct from F. hilsai as originally described by Rizvi (1971). Faustula hilsai Rizvi, 1971 shares a striking similarity to F. basiri. Both have a similar body form; a long esophagus; a ventral sucker that is at the midlevel of the body providing for an unusually long forebody; a large rounded to somewhat pyriform cirrus sac lying immediately anterior to the ventral sucker, enclosing a somewhat Faustula - like cirrus apparatus with a tubular pars prostatica and convoluted seminal vesicle both surrounded by numerous large glandular cells; a similar vitellarium pattern; testes that are anterolateral to the ventral sucker; a multilobed ovary (8 or more lobes) that is a short distance posterior to the ventral sucker and slightly sinistral to the midline of the body; and both have basically equivalent measurements, morphometric ratios and morphometric percentages (see Table 1). In our opinion, F. hilsai as originally described by Rizvi (1971) should be synonymized with F. basiri. Additionally, as F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 is established as a species distinct from F. hilsai Rizvi, 1971, we propose Lingulitrema to accommodate F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 as Lingulitrema hilsai. Lingulitrema hilsai differs from species of Faustula by having an extensively elongate, lingulate body form; an oral sucker described as terminal (appears to be slightly subterminal in fig. 2 A of Kumar & Agarwal 1984); testes that are located posterior to the ventral sucker near the midlevel of the body or a little more posterior; a distinctly submedian genital pore; a relatively long, tubular pars prostatica surrounded by numerous prostatic cells and a distinctive laterally-placed, S-shaped seminal vesicle vs a short pars prostatica with few prostatic cells and a long tubular seminal vesicle that spirals through the posterior two-thirds of the cirrus sac and is at least partially embedded in numerous large glandular cells; an ovary with 5 – 6 lobes vs 8 or more lobes generally seen in species of Faustula and F. hilsai Kumar & Agarwal, 1984 was originally described as having a smooth (aspinose) body. It should be noted that it has been our experience that species of Faustula tend to be somewhat fragile and that the tegumental spines are easily dislodged during routine handling and / or fixation; therefore, the presence or absence of body spines may not be a reliable characteristic in some cases in this genus. It also should be noted that we cannot be completely sure that the lateral placement of the seminal vesicle is not fixation-induced.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC02D62CF8F6F359FDE11B6D.taxon	description	(Fig. 10)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC02D62CF8F6F359FDE11B6D.taxon	type_taxon	Type species: Varanasifaustula indica (Agarwal & Verma, 1981) n. comb. Type and only species. (Syn. Faustula indica Agarwal & Verma, 1981)	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC02D62CF8F6F359FDE11B6D.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis: Body small, somewhat elliptical, extremities tapered to form bluntly pointed ends; tegumental spines not reported. Oral sucker, globose, slightly subterminal. Ventral sucker muscular, globose, anterior to midlevel of body, larger than oral sucker. Prepharynx absent. Pharynx oval, nearly circular, muscular. Esophagus relatively short. Intestinal bifurcation about half way between suckers. Ceca relatively short, terminate slightly anterior to midlevel of body. Testes 2, entire, symmetrical, near midlevel of body; anterior extent may overlap posterior margin of ventral sucker dorsally almost to its midlevel. Cirrus sac clavate, overlaps ventral sucker dorsally, may surpass it posteriorly by short distance; sac encloses cirrus, narrow ejaculatory duct, short tubular pars prostatica, relatively long, saccate, naked seminal vesicle. Genital pore at about level of posterior margin of intestinal bifurcation, distinctly submedian, extracecal, immediately left of left cecum. Ovary with 6 lobes, immediately posttesticular or slightly more anterior, near midline of body to slightly submedian. Seminal receptacle described as absent. Uterus largely posterior to gonads, filling most of posttesticular space. Vitellarium composed of few, relatively large follicles (approximately 5 – 7 / side); follicles linearly organized near lateral margins of body from about midlevel of ceca to level of posterior margin of testes or slightly more posterior. Eggs small, operculate. Excretory vesicle V-shaped, extent of excretory arms unknown; excretory pore slightly subterminal. Reported as intestinal parasite of species of clupeid fishes in the Ganges River, India.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC02D62CF8F6F359FDE11B6D.taxon	etymology	Etymology: The genus is named from the location where the type species was collected in India (Varanasi) and its probable assignment within the faustulid trematodes (Faustula).	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
03F787B6AC02D62CF8F6F359FDE11B6D.taxon	discussion	Remarks: Varanasifaustula indica (Syn. F. indica) differs from species of Faustula by having a simple cirrus; a narrow ejaculatory duct; a tubular pars prostatica and a simple, saccate, unipartite, naked seminal vesicle vs a winding tubular seminal vesicle that is at least partially embedded in large glandular cells; a distinctly submedian, extracecal genital pore; few (5 – 7 / side), relatively large vitelline follicles somewhat longitudinally arranged along the lateral fields of the body from about the midlevel of the ceca to the level of the posterior margin of the testes vs smaller more numerous follicles that range from some distance posterior to the level of the intestinal bifurcation, posteriorly to about the level of the ovary or slightly more anterior; the gonads located near the midlevel of the body and a median ovary with 6 lobes vs 8 or more lobes as seen in species in Faustula. Note the illustration representing F. indica (= V. indica) in the original description by Agarwal & Verma (1981) (see fig. 2) is identified as a ventral view, but the location of the cirrus sac and vitelline follicles relative to the ceca, and the ventral sucker relative to the testes and cirrus sac suggest it is a dorsal view. It appears that the specimen illustrated in fig. 2 was rolled so that the structures more closely associated with the dorsal aspect of the body (e. g., posterior aspect of the cirrus sac, gonads) were displaced to the right while structures more closely associated with the ventral surface (e. g., ventral sucker, genital pore) may have been displaced to the left. It is our opinion that the cirrus sac in this species likely more extensively overlaps the ventral sucker, but that the position of the genital pore was not appreciably altered. Varanasifaustul a indica (Syn. F. indica) is somewhat similar to L. hilsai discussed above, most notably by having 6 ovarian lobes vs 5 – 6 ovarian lobes in L. hilsai (see description and Fig. 2 A of Kumar & Agarwal 1984). Lingulitrema hilsai also differs from V. indica by having longer ceca that surpass the testes for some distance posteriorly, reaching about the midlevel of the ovary; an S-shaped seminal vesicle that lacks large glandular cells; a distinctly submedian genital pore that approaches the cecum and small, more numerous vitelline follicles forming more extensive vitelline fields that extend from the midlevel of the esophagus posteriorly to about the level of the ovary. The following key to genera within the Faustulidae was developed to accomomodate both previous genera and the 5 new genera proposed herein.	en	Dronen, Norman O., Blend, Charles K., Mohammed, Essa T., Bannai, Majid (2021): Reconsideration of the species assigned to Faustula Poche, 1926 (Digenea: Microphalloidea) with the proposal of five new genera in the Faustulidae Poche, 1926. Zootaxa 5027 (2): 231-253, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5027.2.5
