Species of Anacanthorus are described from the gills of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus and Erythrinus erythrinus of drainage systems in the Northeastern Pará State, Brazil. Anacanthorus scyphophallus sp. n. has a male copulatory organ (MCO) with two small flaps in the distal portion; hooks with proximal shank dilatation comprising ½ of the shank length. Anacanthorus ataidei sp. n. has an elongated MCO, with ribbon-like ornaments; hooks without proximal shank dilatation. Anacanthorus siphonocommus sp. n. has an MCO with aculeiform ornaments in the distal portion; hooks with proximal dilatation in the shank comprising ½ of the shank length. Anacanthorus maratininguensis sp. n. has an MCO with a small projection in the form of a hook in the distal region; hooks with proximal dilatation comprising ½ of the shank length. Anacanthorus lacinimentulatus sp. n. has an MCO with extrovert flap skirting its distal region; shank of hooks with proximal dilatation comprising ½ of the total shank length. Anacanthorus cururutuiensis sp. n. presents an MCO with flexed lateral flap in the distal region; hooks with proximal dilatation in the shank comprising ¼ of the shank length. Anacanthorus circumspatulatus sp. n. has an MCO with ornaments in the form of pointed and interleaved blades; hooks with proximal shank dilatation comprising approximately ½ of the shank length. Anacanthorus acrophallus sp. n. has MCO with a small pointed sinistral flap; hooks with proximal dilatation in the shank comprising 1/3 of the shank length. The host-parasite diversity scenario and specificity of Anacanthorus species regarding their characiform hosts are also discussed in this study.
Keywords: Platyhelminthes, Anacanthorus, Dactylogyridae, ectoparasite, Erythrinidae, new species, Taxonomy.