Abstract
Centrorhynchus globocaudatus (Zeder, 1800) Lühe, 1911 (Centrorhynchidae) was reported in birds of prey. Our population from Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus (Falconidae) and Buteo buteo Linnaeus (Accipitridae) in northern Italy was morphologically distinct from others described elsewhere. The worms are elongate and cylindrical. Proboscis long, apically truncated and bare, with wider base and variably faint constriction at point of attachment of receptacle. Large anterior hooks well rooted; posterior spiniform hooks with reduced roots; transitional hooks with scutiform roots in-between. Four tubular cement glands extend into prominent ducts overlapping a large Saefftigen's pouch. Bursa large, with sensory plates. Vagina with laterally slit orifice in sub-ventral pit of globular terminal extension. Thick-shelled eggs ovoid without polar prolongation of fertilization membrane. In our specimens, proboscis hooks, receptacle, male reproductive system, and lemnisci especially in males varied in size from those from Ukraine, India, Egypt, Kyrgystan, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Asian Soviet Republics. Our description of the Italian specimens includes new morphological information supported by scanning electron microscopy and microscope images, molecular analysis and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) of hooks. Additional new details of proboscis hook roots, micropores and micropore distribution are described. Metal composition of hooks (EDXA) demonstrated high levels of calcium and phosphorous, and high levels of sulphur in core and cortical layers of eggs. The molecular profile based on sequences of 18S and cytochrome c oxidase 1 genes is also provided, as well as phylogenetic reconstructions including all available sequences of the family Centrorhynchidae, although further sequences are needed in order to clarify their phylogenetic relationships.
Highlights
Golvan erected Sphaerirostris Golvan, 1956 as a subgenus of Centrorhynchus Lühe, 1911 and included 21 species with short spindle-shaped trunk, polydendritic lacunar system, three or four tubular cement glands and short globular anterior proboscis
The molecular profile based on sequences of 18S and cytochrome c oxidase 1 genes is provided, as well as phylogenetic reconstructions including all available sequences of the family Centrorhynchidae, further sequences are needed in order to clarify their phylogenetic relationships
These discrepancies are to be expected considering the large number of descriptive accounts of this common acanthocephalan that have been reported since 1800
Summary
Golvan erected Sphaerirostris Golvan, 1956 as a subgenus of Centrorhynchus Lühe, 1911 and included 21 species with short spindle-shaped trunk, polydendritic lacunar system, three or four tubular cement glands and short globular anterior proboscis. Centrorhynchus, on the other hand, has long and cylindrical trunk with anterior dilation, transverse anastomoses of secondary lacunar vessels, 3–4 very long cement glands and truncated cylindrical anterior proboscis with slight posterior dilation. There are over 98 valid species of Centrorhynchus Lühe, 1911 known from birds throughout the world (Amin, 2013). Nelson & Ward (1966) collected juvenile specimens of C. globocaudatus from the long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus Gmelin, in the Egyptian El Tahreer Province, and Torres & Puga (1966) collected cystacanths of specimens of Centrorhynchus
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