The Genus Anonchotaenia (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from North American Birds, with the Description of a New Species

Abstract

Cestodes of the genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1900 have been little studied and in general are not well known in North America. The purpose of this paper is to review briefly the literature, with special reference to North American forms, and present a description of a new species. A key to the species and a parasite-host list which includes several new hosts are also presented. The genus Anonchotaenia was proposed by Cohn (1900) for a cestode from Parus c. caeruleus, with A. clava as the type species. Von Linstow (1879) described Taenia Rudolphiana (syn. T. Loxiae recurvirostrae Blumenbach, 1779), T. globata, and T. breviceps, which Fuhrmann (1908) recognized to be synonymous with A. clava. Fuhrmann also selected A. globata as the most suitable for the type species. The description of the genus Anonchotaenia was not complete, and Fuhrmann (1901) proposed the name Anurina with A. longiovata as the type. A nurina inermis was mentioned as a further species, but no qualifying description was given. Fuhrmann (1901), in a correction, indicated that Anurina should have been written Amerina. Cohn (1901) gave a complete redescription of Anonchotaenia clava, which definitely established the characters of the genus. Clerc (1902) described Amerina inermis n. sp. from Sitta uralensis Licht., but in a later paper (1903) gives Fuhrmann credit for the species. Clerc (1903) recognized that the species he assigned to Amerina inermis was an undescribed species, and consequently redescribed it under the name Anonchotaenia bobica. Diamare (1901) makes a brief reference to the genus as Anurina. Both Anurina and Amerina must be considered synonyms of Anonchotaenia. The genus Zosteropicola was erected by Johnston (1912) for a cestode from Zosterops lateralis (Lath.), with Z. clelandi as type. Fuhrmann (1918) considered this genus to be identical with Anonchotaenia, and was dubious as to the existence of an armed rostellum, which was described for Z. clelandi. Fuhrmann (1918) did not think it justifiable to create a new genus for this species, even though an armed rostellum might exist, since it apparently agreed in all other respects with the characters of Anonchotaenia. A. clelandi is not included in the key or host list given below. Until more evidence is presented, or the type reexamined, this species must remain doubtful. There are now apparently 15 valid species in the genus Anonchotaenia: (1) A. globata (von Linstow, 1879) (syn. T. Rudolphiana von Linstow, 1879;