Abstract
Cestodes (Platyhelminthes) from Australian birds from the South Australian Museum collections were studied with a focus on common endemic terrestrial hosts. Despite the variable state of preservation of the examined worms, we could identify several new taxa, including Sobolevitaenia whittingtoni sp. nov. and Spiniglans beveridgei sp. nov. (Dilepididae) in Corvus mellori Mathews, 1912 (Corvidae); Notopentorchis musealis sp. nov. (Paruterinidae) in Hirundapus caudacutus (Latham, 1801) (Apodidae); Monopylidium australiense sp. nov. (Dilepididae) in Menura novaehollandiae Latham, 1801 (Menuridae); Dictymetra gerganae sp. nov. (Dilepididae) in Podargus strigoides (Latham, 1802) (Podargidae); Dictymetra longiuncinata sp. nov. in Esacus magnirostris (Vieillot, 1818) (Burhinidae) and Cracticotaenia adelaidae sp. nov. (Metadilepididae) in Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1801) (Artamidae) and Corcorax melanorhamphos (Vieillot, 1817) (Corcoracidae). Several other presumably new taxa that cannot be fully described are also reported. This diversity found in common hosts suggests the presence of a rich, and presently almost completely unknown, fauna of cestode parasites in Australian birds. As field collection permits allowing to explore this fauna are extremely difficult to obtain, this is a demonstration of the usefulness of museum collections to describe at least part of it.
Highlights
With close to 1000 species, including over one third of endemics, the Australian bird fauna is highly diverse and very particular (Lepage 2017)
The SAMA collection of parasitic helminths holds close to 2000 lots of cestodes of birds, of which we examined around 150 that seemed the best preserved and potentially exploitable for the purpose of this study
We focused on birds with a restricted distribution, including endemics, in order to maximize the discovery of novelties
Summary
With close to 1000 species, including over one third of endemics, the Australian bird fauna is highly diverse and very particular (Lepage 2017). The single large indigenous Australian parasite collection is maintained in Adelaide in the South Australian Museum (SAMA) It includes historical specimens like those of T.H. Johnston (early 20th Century) or more recent material like those of I. In the course of a visit organized within the framework of a large international collecting effort (Caira et al 2017), the senior author reviewed this collection, focusing on parasites from Australian endemic species. This allowed for the identification of a number of new taxa that are described below. The fact that a wide variety of novelties were found in a limited number of hosts is a hint that the Australian cestode fauna in birds is most certainly still largely unknown
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