Cestode parasites from the elasmobranchs Heptranchias perlo and Deania from the Great Meteor Bank, central East Atlantic

Abstract

A total of ten Heptranchias perlo, eight Deania histricosa, two D. calcea, and two D. profundorum from the Great Meteor Bank, central East Atlantic, were studied for cestodes. The elasmobranchs were caught using bottom trawl or long-lines during September 1998 in 298–1075 m water depth. Seven different cestode species were found: Tentacularia coryphaenae, Deanicola minor, D. protentus, Grillotia meteori sp. nov., Grillotia cf. microthrix (Trypanorhyncha), Crossobothrium dohrnii, and Crossobothrium sp. (Tetraphyllidea). T. coryphaenae occurred encapsulated in the stomach wall and all other species were found within the host intestine. G. meteori sp. nov. and G. cf. microthrix additionally infested the musculature as well as the stomach and intestinal wall. D. profundorum harboured five different cestode species and D. histricosa, H. perlo, and D. calcea were infested with four, three and two species, respectively. With 332 and 181 specimens, D. minor and G. cf. microthrix were the most abundant cestodes. Grillotia meteori sp. nov., Crossobothrium sp., and C. dohrnii were host specific for Deania profundorum, D. histricosa and H. perlo, respectively. The other species were found in more than one elasmobranch, with Deanicola minor and D. protentus restricted to Deania sp. Most parasites are recorded for the first time from the central East Atlantic around the Great Meteor Bank.