Basal Armature Research Articles

Eutetrarhynchus pacificus n. sp. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from Raja inornata Jordan & Gilbert (Batoidea: Rajiformes) off the coast of California with comments on congeners.

Eutetrarhynchus pacificus n. sp. is described from the spiral valve of Raja inornata Jordan & Gilbert off the coast of California, USA. The new species is distinguished from E. ruficollis (Eysenhardt, 1829) and E. leucomelanus (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) in having acraspedote rather than craspedote segments and a saccate rather than a branched uterus. It is distinguished from E. platycephali Palm, 2004 in lacking an enlarged hook in the eighth row of the basal armature and from E. beveridgei Schaeffner, 2013, which has a basal swelling and a distinctive basal armature. A partial redescription of E. ruficollis, the type-species of the genus, is provided based on available museum specimens, highlighting the need for a comprehensive redescription of this species to better define the characteristics of the genus. The presence of an undescribed species in museum collections is also noted. Based on the 28S ribosomal gene, the new species clustered with Dollfusiella in a molecular phylogenetic tree. The delimitation of Eutetrarhynchus and its relationship with Dollfusiella is discussed.

Otobothrium muscatense n. sp. (Trypanorhyncha: Otobothriidae) from Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål) (Sparidae), with new locality records of larval trypanorhynchs off the Sultanate of Oman.

In the evaluation of the larval trypanorhynch fauna off the Sultanate of Oman, a total of 188 bony fishes belonging to 16 species were studied, which led to the description of a new species with the establishment of new host and locality records. A new otobothriid species, Otobothrium muscatense n. sp., is described from Rhabdosargus sarba (Forsskål). Based on scolex morphology and tentacular armature, the new species closely resembles the small-sized Otobothrium Linton, 1890 species described as Otobothrium cysticum (Mayer, 1842) and O. crenacolle Linton, 1890. However, it differs from them in the basal armature by a more robust shape of the first principal and the triangular shape of the billhooks as well as by the retractor muscle originating inthe posterior part of the tentacle sheath, attaching to a thickening of thetentacle sheath wall,with a muscular branch continuing and attaching atfrontpart of the bulb. It differs from the other species of Otobothrium by size, the combination of six principal hooksand a single intercalary hook in the metabasal armature, and the plane of reflection through the tentacle surfaces. New locality records of the tentaculariids Nybelinia indica Chandra, 1986, Heteronybelinia yamagutii (Dollfus, 1960), Tentacularia coryphaenae Bosc, 1797, and Mixonybelinia lepturi Palm, 2004, together with the lacistorhynchids Pseudogrillotia multiminacantha Palm, 2004 and Callitetrarhynchus gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819), and the pseudotobothriid Parotobothrium balli (Southwell, 1929) off the Muscat region are established. Of the reported species, especially P. multiminacantha and M. lepturi occurring in Trichiurus lepturus L. further demonstrate the relatedness between the Indonesian and the northwestern Indian Ocean fauna, increasing the number of joint records between Indonesia and Omani waters to 14 species.

A new species of Grillotia Guiart, 1927 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from the spotted skate, Raja straeleni Poll, in South Africa

A new species of Grillotia Guiart, 1927 was recovered from the spotted skate (Raja straeleni Poll) from the south coast of the Western Cape, South Africa. Grillotia sasciae n. sp. is described based on morphological and molecular data. This species most closely resembles species in the subgenus Grillotia (viz., Grillotia borealis Keeney and Campbell, 2001, Grillotia brayi Beveridge and Campbell, 2007, Grillotia dollfusi Carvajal, 1971, Grillotia erinaceus Dollfus, 1969, Grillotia musculara Hart, 1936 and Grillotia patagonica Menoret and Ivanov, 2012) in having four hooks per principal row and intercalary hook rows in the metabasal region of the tentacular armature, a band of hooks on the external tentacular surface, numerous proglottids, and the presence of an uterine pore, a hermaphroditic sac, and internal and external seminal vesicles. The molecular phylogenetic analysis of the partial 28S rDNA gene, confirms the morphological data as it also groups Grillotia sasciae n. sp. within the G. erinaceus species complex. Grillotia sasciae n. sp. is distinctive among all other valid species in the complex by having two enlarged, uncinate hooks in the basal armature, of a different shape and size from the remaining hooks 1(1') in the metabasal armature. In addition, the retractor muscle of Grillotia sasciae n. sp. attaches at the posterior region of the tentacular bulb rather than the middle portion, continuing posteriorly as seen in most congeners (viz., G. erinaceus, G. borealis, G. brayi, G. musculara and G. pantagonica). The new species is the seventh species within the subgenus Grillotia and the first record of a species of Grillotia from southern African waters.

A new genus and two new species of trypanorhynch cestodes (Tentaculariidae) from the sharksCarcharhinus sorrah(Müller & Henle) andSphyrna lewini(Griffith & Smith) from off the coasts of Malaysia and Mexico.

Two new tentaculariid species were found infecting carcharhiniform sharks from off the coasts of Malaysian Borneo and the southwestern coast of the Baja California Sur, Mexico. Both new species exhibit a homeoacanthous heteromorphous basal and a homeoacanthous homeomorphous metabasal armature. Since this hook arrangement is unique within the tentaculariids and the taxonomy in this group deeply depends on the tentacular armature, Reimeriella n. g. is erected to accommodate R. varioacantha n. sp. ex Carcharhinus sorrah (Müller & Henle) and R. mexicoensis n. sp. ex Sphyrna lewini (Griffith & Smith). Unlike R. mexicoensis n. sp., R. varioacantha n. sp. has a pars bothrialis not overlapping the pars bulbosa and the number of testes is higher. Reimeriella mexicoensis n. sp. possesses very large uncinate to falcate hooks in the basal armature, while in R. varioacantha n. sp. these hooks are almost the same in size as the remaining hooks in both the basal and metabasal armature. The latter species is the first tentaculariid species where the metabasal armature very closely resembles an eutetrarhynchid with a heteroacanthous typical homeomorphous metabasal armature and a high number of spiniform hooks per half spiral row (10-11 vs 6-7 in R. mexicoensis n. sp.) in the metabasal and apical armature. This pattern provides further morphological evidence for the close relationship of the Eutetrarhynchoidea and the Tentacularioidea. Reimeriella varioacantha n. sp. enriches the trypanorhynch fauna from off the coast of Malaysian Borneo while R. mexicoensis n. sp. is a novel record of a tentaculariid trypanorhynch from the Mexican Pacific.

Tentaculariid trypanorhynchs (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) from Mobula japanica (Müller & Henle) from Indonesia, with the description of two new species.

This study presents new information on tentaculariid trypanorhynchs from the Indo-Pacific region around Bali, Indonesia. Two new tentaculariid species, Nybelinia balinensis n. sp. and N. mobulicola n. sp., are described from the stomach of their myliobatid host Mobula japanica (Müller & Henle). Nybelinia balinensis n. sp. is a large-sized tentaculariid (scolex length, 6766-10,991). It can be distinguished from its congeners by a falcate metabasal armature, a unique basal armature of four rows of triangular shaped hooks, craspedote proglottids, and testes arranged in multiple layers in two separate lateral fields. N. mobulicola n. sp. can be characterized by short tentacles of 25 rows of hooks and 60 testes not reaching posterior to the ovary. A combination of a shorter basal armature of uncinate hooks without anterior extension of the base and fewer metabasal uncinate hooks with anterior extension of the base distinguishes it from N. lingualis (Cuvier, 1817). It differs from N. balinensis n. sp. in the possession of uncinate rather triangular shaped basal hooks. The Nybelinia Poche, 1926 fauna of M. japanica is highly specific, in line with a unique trypanorhynch fauna earlier described for the devil rays. This reflects their unique position as oceanic plankton feeders within the marine food web.

A new species of Dollfusiella Campbell & Beveridge, 1994 (Cestoda: Eutetrarhynchidae), with remarks on Halysiorhynchus macrocephalus (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) (Cestoda: Mixodigmatidae) from the bowmouth guitarfish Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider (Rhinidae) in the Persian Gulf.

Dollfusiella nimai n. sp. (Cestoda: Eutetrarhynchidae) is described from the intestine of Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider in the Persian Gulf. The number of the hooks per half spiral row in the metabasal tentacular armature distinguishes the new species from its congeners, except for D. vooremi (São Clemente & Gomes, 1989) possessing approximately the same number of hooks per half spiral row. While the principle hooks 1(1')-21(21') were homeomorphous in the metabasal armature of D. nimai n. sp., the billhooks on the antibothrial surface and the uncinate hooks on the bothrial surface were the principle hooks 1(1')-16(16') in the metabasal armature of D. vooremi. Dollfusiella nimai n. sp. most closely resembles D. michiae (Southwell, 1929) in the tentacular armature as well as the morphology of the scolex and strobila but differs clearly in the number of the hooks per half spiral row in the metabasal tentacular armature (25-26 vs 16 respectively). A detailed examination of the specimens of Halysiorhynchus macrocephalus (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) (Cestoda: Mixodigmatidae) ex R. ancylostoma from the Persian Gulf revealed intraspecific variability including the number of the principle hooks per half spiral row in the metabasal armature, the number of the hook rows in the basal armature, and the size of the basal hooks.

A new genus and species ofthe trypanorhynch family Otobothriidae Dollfus, 1942 from the slender weasel shark Paragaleus randalli Compagno, Krupp & Carpenter (Hemigaleidae) in the Persian Gulf.

A survey on the cestode fauna of Paragaleus randalli Compagno, Krupp & Carpenter in the Persian Gulf resulted in the discovery of a new trypanorhynch species of the family Otobothriidae Dollfus, 1942, the second otobothrioid species hosted by the family Hemigaleidae Hasse. The new species exhibits the closest morphological similarity to Pristiorhynchus palmi Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2013, the type- and only species of its genus. However, the new species differs from P. palmi in the position of the bothrial pits, the morphology and oncotaxy of the basal armature, the commencement of the hook files on the internal surface, a wider scolex peduncle in the pars bulbosa than in the pars vaginalis, a long neck and the presence of a lateral bothrial groove connecting the two bothrial pits to each other. The latter character is a unique trait within the Otobothrioidea Dollfus, 1942. Considering such differences, a new genus, Olgaella n. g., was erected to accommodate O. elenae n. g., n. sp. within the Otobothriidae. The evolutionary relatedness of the bothrial pits of the Otobothrioidea and the bothrial grooves of the Lacistorhynchoidea Guiart, 1927 is discussed.

First record of plerocercoid larvae belong to the order Trypanorhyncha (Diesing 1863) isolated from swordfish (Xiphias gladius, Linnaeus 1758) captured off Sri Lanka

Parasitism leads to severe economic losses to marine fish exports in Sri Lanka. Swordfish is a seasonal species with high demand both locally and internationally. Presence of a parasite in their flesh confuses the suppliers with zoonotic Anisarkis spp. This study is aimed to identify the plerecercoid parasitic larvae found in swordfish and establish a feasible method of diagnosis at fish processing factories. Parasites buried in frozen swordfish ( Xiphias gladius ) muscles were isolated and stored in cold sea water. Samples were washed with normal saline water and observed under bright field light microscope at 40x and 100x magnifications, and the parasites were identified based on their morphological features. For further confirmation, confocalmicroscope was used to record scolex parameters. Total length of the parasites was 1.7 cm– 3.5 cm (2.27 cm). Presence of the elongated, acraspidote scolex (length 6.23 mm, width at pars bothridialis 2.4 mm) with four tentacular armature and curved, apically inverted, thick edged bothridia confirmed the parasitic larvae belonged to the Order Trypanorhyncha. Corona of falciform hooks in the basal armature and the heteromorphous hooks in a half spiral arrangement at metabasal armature are characteristics of the genus Molicola . This is the first record of the Trypanorhynch plerocercoid larvae (genus: Molicola ) isolated in swordfishes from Sri Lanka. This study emphasizes that morphological examination of the parasite scolex using bright field microscopy will be helpful to distinguish the parasitic genera and feasible to use in the fish processing factories.

Revision of the family Sphyriocephalidae Pintner, 1913 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha), with the description of Heterosphyriocephalus encarnae n. sp. and redescriptions of two species of Sphyriocephalus

The family Sphyriocephalidae Pintner, 1913, which comprises the genera Hepatoxylon Bosc, 1811, Sphyriocephalus Pintner, 1913 and Heterosphyriocephalus Palm, 2004, is revised from newly-collected and museum material. Heterosphyriocephalus encarnae n. sp. is described from the pelagic thresher, Alopias pelagicus Nakamura (Lamniformes: Alopiidae) collected from the Pacific Ocean off Boca del Alamo, Mexico. This species can be readily distinguished from the rest of sphyriocephalids by its small size, low number of proglottids and long velum with a characteristically irregular and folded border, among other features. The tentacles show a distinctive basal armature, and a heteroacanthous typical metabasal armature with heteromorphous hooks. Redescriptions are provided for Sphyriocephalus tergestinus Pintner, 1913 and S. viridis (Wagener, 1854) Pintner 1913 based on novel morphological data. A phylogenetic analysis including the available sequences of sphyriocephalid species plus new generated sequences of S. tergestinus has been performed, from which S. tergestinus is allocated into Heterosphyriocephalus as H. tergestinus n. comb. New dichotomous keys for the determination of genera of Sphyriocephalidae are provided, as well as new generic diagnoses for Sphyriocephalus and Heterosphyriocephalus and keys for the determination of species within both genera. Although the morphology of the genus Hepatoxylon is not addressed in the present study, the available sequence of the type-species has been incorporated in the phylogenetic analysis and its relationship to the other two genera of the family is discussed.

Review of the genus Shirleyrhynchus Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 (Trypanorhyncha: Shirleyrhynchidae), with the resurrection of S. butlerae Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 and the description of S. panamensis n. sp.

A new species of trypanorhynch cestode is described from two species of stingrays, the Panamic stingray Urotrygon aspidura (Jordan & Gilbert) and the Pacific chupare Himantura pacifica (Beebe & Tee-Van) collected in the Golfo de Montijo in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Panama. Shirleyrhynchus panamensis n. sp. represents an important addition to the family, which until now consisted of two monotypic genera. The new species is characterised by an elongate scolex with four, ovate bothria, presence of prebulbar organs, absence of gland cells within the muscular bulbs and an oncotaxy with a typical heteroacanthous, heteromorphous tentacular armature, a characteristic basal armature and the presence of a slight basal swelling. It is readily distinguished from its congeners by a smaller scolex and features of the oncotaxy, such as dissimilar hooks on opposing principle rows, a commencement of hook rows from the bothrial to the antibothrial surface and a much shorter basal armature. Although described only on the basis of immature worms lacking a strobila, the new species adds information on features of the oncotaxy within Shirleyrhynchus Beveridge & Campbell, 1988. Observation of the holotype of Shirleyrhynchus aetobatidis (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) revealed apparent differences from Australian specimens that have been described as Shirleyrhynchus butlerae Beveridge & Campbell, 1988 but which were later synonymised. Observations of type-specimens of S. butlerae also revealed differences from the original description and some morphological characteristics are amended. Shirleyrhynchus butlerae is herein resurrected and an amended generic diagnosis and a key to the identification of species are provided. The molecular voucher specimen of 'S. aetobatidis' utilised in previous molecular phylogenetic studies was re-observed which revealed a misidentification of the specimen with Parachristianella indonesiensis Palm, 2004.

Dollfusiella qeshmiensis n. sp. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from the cowtail stingray Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål) in the Persian Gulf, with a key to the species of Dollfusiella Campbell & Beveridge, 1994.

A new species of the genus Dollfusiella Campbell & Beveridge, 1994 is described from Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål) in the Persian Gulf. Dollfusiella qeshmiensis n. sp. is allocated to the genus Dollfusiella based on the possession of two bothria, prebulbar organs, a heteroacanthous typical armature with tightly spaced rows of hollow hooks, a basal swelling and a characteristic basal armature without prominent macrohooks. The presence of an enlarged external seminal vesicle in Dollfusiella qeshmiensis n. sp. distinguishes this species from D. michiae (Southwell, 1929), D. bareldsi (Beveridge, 1990), D. owensi (Beveridge, 1990), D. geraschmidti (Dollfus, 1974), D. angustiformis Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2013, D. hemispinosa Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2013, D. spinosa Schaeffner & Beveridge, 2013 and D. taminii Menoret & Ivanov, 2014. The new species is distinguished from the remaining species within the genus by a combination of the following morphological features: the number of testes per segment, the number of testis columns and the number of homeomorphous hooks per half spiral row in the metabasal region. In the most recent taxonomic key to the species of Dollfusiella, the presence or absence of enlarged, microscopically visible spinitriches on the scolex was used as the first distinguishing character dividing the congeners into two groups. Since the existence of visible microtriches on the scolex peduncle of D. vooremi (São Clemente & Gomes, 1989), a species so far grouped among the species lacking visible microtriches on the scolex, has been recently demonstrated, and given the fact that the presence of microscopically visible microtriches on the scolex is variable in some eutetrarhynchid species, a new key to the species of Dollfusiella is provided in which the spinitriches have been given less priority.

Eutetrarhynchid trypanorhynchs (Cestoda) from elasmobranchs off Argentina, including the description of Dollfusiella taminii sp. n. and Parachristianella damiani sp. n., and amended description of Dollfusiella vooremi (São Clemente et Gomes, 1989)

During a parasitological survey of teleosts and elasmobranchs in the Argentine Sea, 3 species of eutetrarhynchids were collected from the batoids Myliobatis goodei Garman and Psammobatis bergi Marini, and the shark Mustelus schmitti Springer. The specimens collected from Mu. schmitti were identified as Dollfusiela vooremi (Sπo Clemente et Gomes, 1989), whereas the specimens from My. goodei and Ps. bergi resulted in new species of Dollfusiella Campbell et Beveridge, 1994 and Parachristianella Dollfus, 1946, respectively. Dollfusiella taminii sp. n. from Ps. bergi is characterised by a distinct basal armature with basal swelling and a heteroacanthous homeomorphous metabasal armature with 7-9 falcate hooks per principal row. Parachristianella damiani sp. n. from My. goodei lacks a distinct basal armature, having 2-3 initial rows of uncinate hooks, a heteroacanthous heteromorphous metabasal armature with the first principal row of small hooks, followed by rows with 10-14 large hooks. This is the first record of Parachristianella in the southwestern Atlantic. The amended description of D. vooremi includes the detailed description of the tentacular armature, including SEM micrographs of all tentacular surfaces. This species is characterised by a basal armature consisting of rows of uncinate and falcate hooks, a basal swelling and a metabasal armature with billhooks on the antibothrial surface and uncinate hooks on the bothrial surface. The scolex peduncle of D. vooremi is covered with enlarged spinitriches. This species is restricted to carcharhiniform sharks, since the report of D. vooremi in Sympterygia bonapartii Müller et Henle off Bahia Blanca (Argentina) is dubious.

Review of the genus Eutetrarhynchus Pintner, 1913 (Trypanorhyncha: Eutetrarhynchidae), with the description of Eutetrarhynchus beveridgei n. sp.

The genus Eutetrarhynchus Pintner, 1913 is revised. Eutetrarhynchus beveridgei n. sp. is described from the spiral intestine of the dwarf whipray, Himantura walga (Müller & Henle) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), from the South China Sea off the Malaysian part of Borneo. The new species is characterised by a slender, elongate scolex, two oval bothria, muscular bulbs, retractor muscles inserting at the base of the bulbs, and the presence of gland-cells and prebulbar organs. The tentacular armature is typical heteroacanthous with heteromorphous hooks. Eutetrarhynchus beveridgei n. sp. is allocated to the genus due to its distinct segment morphology featuring two internal seminal vesicles and scattered testes occupying the complete intervascular space. It differs from congeners in its relatively small size, much smaller scolex regions and in the presence of a basal armature with a distinct basal swelling. Eutetrarhynchus cortezensis Friggens & Duszynski, 2005 is transferred to Dollfusiella Campbell & Beveridge, 1994, as D. cortezensis n. comb., on the basis of its segment morphology, with testes in a linear arrangement and the absence of internal seminal vesicles. A new generic diagnosis and a key for the identification of species of Eutetrarhynchus is provided.

Prochristianella mattisi sp. n. (Trypanorhyncha: Eutetrarhynchidae) from the wedgenose skate, Dipturus whitleyi (Rajiformes: Rajidae), from Tasmania (Australia)

A new species of Prochristianella Dollfus, 1946 is described from the spiral intestine of the wedgenose skate, Dipturus whitleyi (Iredale) (Rajiformes: Rajidae), off the north-western coast of Tasmania (Australia). Prochristianella mattisi sp. n. is characterised by an acraspedote scolex, two oval bothria, elongate, bent bulbs, a retractor muscle inserting at the base of each bulb and the presence of gland-cells within the bulbs and prebulbar organs. The tentacular armature is typical heteroacanthous, heteromorphous, with a characteristic basal oncotaxy and a metabasal armature with hooks first increasing and then decreasing in size along each principle row. It can be differentiated from other species of Prochristianella by a combination of morphological characters, such as the metabasal tentacular armature with eight hooks per principle row, a unique basal armature without enlarged hooks on the basal swelling and genital pores slightly posterior to the mid-line of the segment. The description of P. mattisi sp. n. increases the number of known species within Prochristianella to 20, eight of which occur in Australian waters. A key for the identification to species within Prochristianella is provided.

A new species of Heteronybelinia (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from Sympterygia bonapartii (Rajidae), Nemadactylus bergi (Cheilodactylidae) and Raneya brasiliensis (Ophidiidae) in the south-western Atlantic, with comments on host specificity of the genus

Adults and plerocercoids of a new species of Heteronybelinia (Trypanorhyncha, Tentaculariidae) were recovered from the skate Sympterygia bonapartii (Rajiformes: Rajidae) and two species of teleosts, Raneya brasiliensis (Ophidiiformes: Ophidiidae) and Nemadactylus bergi (Perciformes: Cheilodactylidae), respectively. Heteronybelinia mattisi n. sp. differs from its congeners in its possession of a tentacular armature consisting of hooks with slight differences in size and shape on opposite surfaces of the tentacle (uncinate with rounded bases on the bothrial surface and uncinate with elongate bases on the antibothrial surface), without a characteristic basal armature, hooks increasing in size toward the tip of the tentacles, and pars bothrialis slightly overlapping with bulbs. The description of Heteronybelinia is emended regarding the distribution of testes to include species without postovarian testes (H. palliata and H. mattisi), and without testes anterior to cirrus sac on the poral side (H. robusta and H. mattisi). Host data are summarized for all 15 valid species of Heteronybelinia. Host specificity of adults and plerocercoids of Heteronybelinia is variable among species, the adults being more host specific than the plerocercoids. With the exception of H. mattisi, the definitive hosts of all species of Heteronybelinia for which adults are known include carcharhiniform sharks. Heteronybelinia mattisi seems to have oioxenous specificity for its definitive batoid host, S. bonapartii, and to be more specific for the intermediate hosts than most of its congeners.

Description of a New Trypanorhynch Species (Cestoda) from Indonesian Borneo, with the Suppression of Oncomegoides and the Erection of a New Genus Hispidorhynchus

A new species of Oncomegas Dollfus, 1929 is described from the cowtail stingray, Pastinachus atrus (Macleay), collected in the Makassar Strait, Indonesian Borneo. Oncomegas trimegacanthus n. sp. possesses 2 oval bothria, gland cells within the bulbs, prebulbar organs, a distinctive basal armature with a single macrohook on the bothrial surface of the asymmetrical basal swelling, and a heteroacanthous, heteromorphous metabasal armature with 10 hooks per principle row. It differs from congeners by its possession of additional enlarged hooks at the base of the tentacle. Because of apparent morphological similarities, we suppress the genus Oncomegoides Beveridge & Campbell, 2005 with Oncomegas, and place the type and only species, Oncomegoides celatus Beveridge & Campbell, 2005 , within Oncomegas as Oncomegas celatus n. comb. Three species of Oncomegas , namely, Oncomegas paulinae Toth, Campbell & Schmidt, 1992, Oncomegas australiensis Toth, Campbell & Schmidt, 1992, and Oncomegas aetobatidis Campbell & Beveridge, 2009, differ from other species, possessing testes posterior to the ovary and a metabasal armature consisting of tiny, relatively homeomorphous hooks, with more than 14 hooks per principle row. Based on these morphological differences, a new genus, Hispidorhynchus n. gen., is erected, with Hispidorhynchus australiensis n. comb. as the type species.

Two new species ofProchristianellaDollfus, 1946 (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda) from the blue-spotted stingray,Neotrygon kuhlii(Müller & Henle, 1841) off New Caledonia

Beveridge I. & Justine J.-L. 2010. — Two new species of Prochristianella Dollfus, 1946 (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda) from the blue-spotted stingray, Neotrygon kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) off New Caledonia. Zoosystema 32 (4) : 643-652.Prochristianella aciculata n. sp. and P. omunae n. sp. (Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Trypanorhyncha, Eutetrarhynchidae) are described from the spiral valve of Neotrygon kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841) (Rajiformes, Dasyatidae) from Nouméa, New Caledonia, representing the first records of this cestode genus from the southern Pacific Ocean. Prochristianella aciculata n. sp. is distinguished from congeners by aciculate hooks in the principal rows of the metabasal tentacular armature and by the unique morphology of the first hooks in each row. Prochristianella omunae n. sp. is distinguished from congeners by its extended basal armature (20 rows of hooks) and the presence of enlarged hooks at the very base of the tentacle.

Validation of Christianella Guiart, 1931 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) and its taxonomic relationship with Grillotia Guiart, 1927

Christianella Guiart, 1931 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) is redefined as a subgenus of Grillotia Guiart, 1927 based on the type-species, G. (C.) minuta (van Beneden, 1849), from the elasmobranch Squatina squatina (Linnaeus). Grillotia smarisgora (Wagener, 1854) is treated as a synonym of G. (C.) minuta, as are G. angeli Dollfus, 1969 and G. bothridiopunctata Dollfus, 1969. Other species included in the subgenus are G. (C.) carvajalregorum Menoret & Ivanov, 2009 (formerly Progrillotia dollfusi Carvajal & Rego, 1983), G. (C.) australis Beveridge & Campbell, 2001, G. (C.) longispinis (Linton, 1890) n. comb. (formerly Rhynchobothrium longispine Linton, 1890) and G. (C.) yuniariae Palm, 2004. The subgenus is similar to Grillotia Guiart, 1927 (sensu stricto), having two bothria and an atypical heteroacanthous armature, but differs in having a single row of intercalary hooks, fewer, elongate segments with testes often in longitudinal columns, a distinctive basal armature, an internal seminal vesicle which extends beyond the cirrus or hermaphroditic sac and no uterine pore. The adults of three species are known, all parasitising members of Squatina Duméril.

Nataliella marcelli n. g., n. sp. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha: Rhinoptericolidae) from Hawaiian fishes

A new trypanorhynch cestode from Hawaiian waters is described based on specimens in the collection of the Meguro Parasitological Museum, Tokyo, and newly collected specimens. Nataliella marcelli n. g., n. sp. is characterised by its elongate, craspedote scolex with four small, ear-shaped bothria, an elongate pars vaginalis and long bulbs. The homeoacanthous homeomorphous metabasal armature is comprised of five or six slender, solid hooks per half spiral row. A distinctive basal armature is present, including a combination of six characteristically shaped macrohooks not previously described for trypanorhynchs. The surface ultrastructure consists of gladiate spiniform microtriches that cover the distal and proximal bothrial surface and filiform microtriches on the scolex peduncle. The adults are not known. Nataliella is assigned to the family Rhinoptericolidae Carvajal & Campbell, 1975 based on its possession of four bothria, prebulbar organs and no chainette or intercalary hooks. The family diagnosis is amended to accommodate the new genus. Rhinoptericola megacantha Carvajal & Campbell, 1975 is considered the most closely related species, a position that has been confirmed by molecular analyses of the SSU and LSU rDNA. Nataliella n. g. is intermediate in morphology between the homeoacanth family Tentaculariidae Poche, 1926 (superfamily Tentacularioidea) and the Rhinoptericolidae and other eutetrarhynchid genera (superfamily Eutetrarhynchoidea), sharing characters of both superfamilies.

New name for Progrillotia dollfusi Carvajal et Rego, 1983 (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha): description of adults from Squatina guggenheim (Chondrichthyes: Squatiniformes) off the coast of Argentina

Examination of the type material of Progrillotia dollfusi Carvajal et Rego, 1983, and of new specimens recently collected off the coast of Argentina (including plerocerci from 10 species of teleosts and adults from Squatina guggenheim Marini), allowed a detailed redescription of this species and the evaluation of its current taxonomic status. The following characters that have been treated inconsistently by different authors have been herein corrected or confirmed: band of hooklets on external surface restricted to the base of the tentacle, external surface of metabasal region with 3-5 intercalary hooks arranged in a single row merging immediately to a cluster of 3-4 hooklets arranged in two rows; retractor muscle originating in the posterior third of the bulb, hollow hooks, and posterior margin of bothria notched. These features along with the presence of postovarian testes in the adults clearly confirm the placement of P. dollfusi in the genus Grillotia Guiart, 1927. In order to avoid the homonymy with Grillotia dollfusi Carvajal, 1971, a new name, Grillotia carvajalregorum nom. n., is proposed. This species differs from the 16 valid species in the genus in the combination of the following characters: number and morphology of hooks in principal rows in proximal metabasal region of the tentacle, number and distribution of intercalary hooks, presence of clusters of hooklets, extent of band of hooklets on external surface of basal armature, site of origin of the retractor muscle, and features of the terminal genitalia. The present study describes the plerocerci and adult worms, and provides detailed description of the microthrix pattern and histology of this species for the first time.