A new genus of Dilepididae (Cestoda) of the yellowbill Ceuthmochares aereus (Cuculidae) from the Ivory Coast

Bonaia africana n. gen., n. sp. (Cestoda: Dilepididae) has been found in Ceuthmochares aereus (Aves: Cuculidae) in the Ivory Coast (West Africa). This new tapeworm is mainly characterized by its unusual rostellar hooks that are implanted irregularly and which present a variable form and length in the same rostellum. The differential diagnosis, particularly in comparison with the closely related genera Liga and Amoebotaenia, is presented: Liga possesses an atrial bundle of setae and Amoebotaenia 1 row of well built hooks with a typical blade. It is assumed that the unusual disposition of the rostellar hooks described here could be a transitional form between the 1- and 2-row patterns or a degenerate derivative of a regular arrangement.     

Cestodes of birds from the Ivory Coast. Yapolepis yapolepis n. g., n. sp., a new metadilepidid (Cyclophyllidea: Paruterinoidea) parasite of the icterine greenbul (Aves: Pycnonotidae)

Yapolepis yapolepis n. g., n. sp. a parasite of the icterine greenbul Phyllastrephus icterinus (Aves: Pycnonotidae) in the Ivory Coast is described. Due mainly to the lack of both a rostellar pouch and a paruterine organ, this new genus is classified within the family Metadilepididae Spassky, 1959. Yapolepis is principally characterised by its unarmed rostellum and by unilateral genital pores. It is assumed that the Metadilepididae are probably more diversified than presently known, the reason for this being our limited knowledge of the parasite-fauna of the intertropical terrestrial birds which are their main hosts.This work is part of the author's thesis.     

Three new species of Stiphrornis (Aves: Muscicapidae) from the Afro-tropics,with a molecular phylogenetic assessment of the genus

We describe three new species of forest robin in the genus Stiphrornis; two from West Africa and one from the Congo Basin. Each species represents a distinct phylogenetic lineage based on genetic analysis. In addition to genetic differentiation, each new species is diagnosable from other Stiphrornis lineages by morphology, and by plumage. One of the new species appears to be restricted to the Central and Brong-Ahafo Regions of Ghana, and another is restricted to Benin and the Central Region of Ghana. In Ghana, these two new species presumably come into contact with Stiphrornis erythrothorax (Western Region of Ghana and westward), and there is evidence that one of the new species has a distinguishably different song from erythrothorax. The distribution of the third new species is primarily on the south bank of the Congo River, near the city of Kisangani. Recognition of these species provides additional evidence that Afrotropical forests are harbouring substantial cryptic diversity, and that our knowledge of the drivers of this diversity remains poorly documented across the region.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BF2A0BE6-1140-4EFF-9035-380D61AB03AE     

Three new species of picobiine mites (Acari: Syringophilidae) parasitising African flycatchers (Aves: Muscicapidae)

Three new species of quill mites of the subfamily Picobiinae Johnston & Kethley, 1973 (Acari: Syringophilidae) are described from African flycatchers (Passeriformes: Muscicapidae): Picobia cichladusa n. sp. on Cichladusa arquata Peters and P. myrmecocichla n. sp. on Myrmecocichla arnotti (Tristram), both from Tanzania, and P. echo n. sp. on Cossypha heuglini Hartlaub from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.     

扩张莫尼茨绦虫(绦虫纲:圆叶目)卵黄细胞发育的超微结构

用透射电镜观察了扩张莫尼茨绦虫(Moniezia expansa)卵黄细胞发育的全过程。扩张莫尼茨绦虫卵黄细胞发育的规律为：(1)细胞体积不断增大;(2)质、核比不断增加而核体积几乎不发生改变,核表面从规则变为不规则,再由不规则变为规则,核内出现染色质浓缩成小块再分散的发育变化过程;(3)线粒体逐渐增多,发育不断完善;(4)粗面内质网及高尔基复合体出现由少到多,发育不断完善,再由多到少不断退化的变化;(5)由高尔基复合体组装的电子致密的小卵黄囊不断融合,至卵黄细胞成熟时仅有一卵黄囊,占据细胞大部分体积[动物学报49(2)：256—261,2003]。     

A new genus and species of proteocephalidean (Cestoda) from Clarias catfishes (Siluriformes: Clariidae) in Africa

A new proteocephalidean cestode is described from 2 catfishes, Clarias gariepinus (type host) and C. cf. anguillaris (Siluriformes: Clariidae), from Ethiopia (type locality), Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, and a new genus, Barsonella, is proposed to accommodate it. The genus belongs to the Proteocephalinae because its genital organs (testes, ovary, vitellarium, and uterus) are situated in the medulla. Barsonella lafoni, the type and only species of the new genus, is characterized mainly by the possession of an additional opening of each sucker; circular musculature on the anterior margin of suckers, serving as a sphincter; a small thin-walled glandular apical organ; absence of well-developed osmoregulatory canals in mature, pregravid, and gravid proglottids; and a large strobila, up to 173 mm long and 3.2 mm wide. Species of Marsypocephalus Wedl, 1861 (Marsypocephalinae), other large-sized proteocephalidean tapeworms occurring sympatrically in African catfishes (Clarias and Heterobranchus) and also possessing a sphincter-like, circular musculature on the anterior part of suckers, differ from B. lafoni in the absence of an additional sucker opening and glandular apical organ, the cortical position of the testes, well-developed osmoregulatory canals throughout the strobila, and a large cirrus sac. Proteocephalus glanduligerus (Janicki, 1928), another cestode parasitic in Clarias spp. in Africa, is much smaller than B. lafoni (maximum length 15 mm), has suckers without additional opening and circular musculature on the suckers, a large-sized glandular organ, much larger than suckers, and well-developed osmoregulatory canals. Comparison of partial sequences of the 28S rRNA gene for 7 samples of B. lafoni from 2 different hosts and 4 localities in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania has shown a very low genetic variability. In a limited phylogenetic analysis, B. lafoni formed a clade with Corallobothrium solidum Fritsch, 1886 (Proteocephalidae: Corallobothriinae), an African electric catfish parasite. This clade was the sister group of almost all Neotropical taxa from pimelodid and other catfishes.     

A new genus and species of Philopteridae (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) from the trumpeters (Aves: Gruiformes: Psophiidae)

A new chewing louse genus and species belonging to the Philopteridae, namely, Palmaellus inexpectatus n. gen., n. sp., is described. The new genus is distinguished from the other ischnoceran genera hitherto described by its peculiar characters of the dorsal anterior head plate with 2 postero-lateral projections, pterothorax and abdomen with scarce chaetotaxy, male genitalia with simple mesomere and paramere lacking inner digitiform projection, and the genital region of female with postero-vulvar plates bearing setae. It is a parasite of the trumpeters, an avian family endemic to South America's Amazon Basin.     

Structure of the copulative apparatus of Sobolevicanthus gracilis (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea)

Fine structure of genital atrium, Furman body, distal region of vagina and sac cirrus were investigated. The broad polymorphism of surface microstructures (microtriches) in various parts of copulative apparatus has been revealed. The constitution of prostate glands, being the modified cytons of syncitial epithelium of the intrabursal section of spermaduct wall, is described. Based on obtained and reference data, a comparative morphological analysis of copulative apparatus organization in lowest and highest cestodes was carried out. The hypothesis suggests that evolution of its organization was connected with the reduction of the muscular elements and simultaneous improvement of their managing, their isolation from surrounding parenchyma and development of supporting connective tissue elements. It is shown, that Fuhrmann's body has its own developed muscular system armed with power microtriches and being capable to evaginate into the distal region of vagina. It is supposed that S. gracilis obtains of two different ways of copulation in: by means of cirrus that executes the cross fertilization; and by means of the additional copulative formation--Furman body, which guarantees the self fertilization of worms.     

Development of the Embryonic Envelopes of Mesocestoides lineatus (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea)

Summary

Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the eggs of Mesocestoides lineatus consisted of an oncosphere larva surrounded by various coverings. The outermost of these was the embryonic capsule, which appeared as a thin electron-dense membranous sac. The capsule enclosed inner and outer embryonic envelopes, each of which was syncytial and apparently formed from embryonic blastomeres. The envelopes became increasingly vesiculated during embryogenesis, and were attached to each other by desmosomes by the time the larva was fully formed. An electron-dense intracellular embryophore was produced by the inner envelope; it first appeared under the distal plasma membrane as a series of blocks, which grew and fused to form a thick unbroken layer. Early in development, the proximal plasma membrane of the inner envelope was connected to the larval epithelium by a multilaminate membrane complex that was ultrastructurally similar to a continuous junction. At the end of embryogenesis, this appeared to detach from its formative cells on both sides to form the distinctive oncospheral membrane. Several eggs were bound together in clusters by a cluster capsule that was ultrastructurally identical to the individual embryonic capsules. This type of egg packaging has not been described previously for any cestode. Both the cluster and individual capsules broke down by the end of embryogenesis.     

A new genus and two new species of Aporhynchidae (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan

New collections of cestodes from the spiral intestines of catsharks (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae) off Taiwan have led to the discovery of a new genus and 2 new species of trypanorhynchs. These taxa are relatively unique among trypanorhynchs in their lack of all elements of the rhyncheal apparatus. The new genus, Nakayacestus n. gen., is considered to belong with Aporhynchus in the Aporhynchidae. In addition to lacking the rhyncheal apparatus, these 2 genera share circum-medullary vitelline follicles, post-ovarian testes, and complex terminal genitalia consisting of accessory, external, and internal seminal vesicles. The 2 genera differ conspicuously in spinithrix configuration; whereas both species of Nakayacestus n. gen. bear scolex spinitriches that are bifid, trifid, or pectinate, species of Aporhynchus either lack scolex spinitriches entirely or possess spathulate spinitriches. The configuration of the bothria of the 2 genera also differ conspicuously. Whereas the bothria of Aporhynchus are sessile and generally do not extend beyond the lateral margins of the cephalic peduncle, those of Nakayacestus bear only a tenuous connection with the scolex proper, being conspicuously free both anteriorly and posteriorly and extending conspicuously beyond the cephalic peduncle. Futhermore, the boundary between the scolex and the strobila of members of the new genus is clearly delineated, whereas this distinction is ill-defined in species of Aporhynchus. Nakayacestus takahashii n. sp., the type of the new genus, was collected from the Broadmouth catshark, Apristurus macrostomus, and differs from Nakayacestus tanyderus n. sp., collected from the Blacktip sawtail catshark, Galeus sauteri, in being shorter, bearing a longer pedunculus scolecis, an ovary that is more posterior in the proglottid, and fewer post-ovarian testes. Furthermore, the 2 new species differ conspicuously from one another in the configuration of their scolex spinitriches.     

Metacestodes of the family Dilepididae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) parasitising fishes in Mexico

A survey of metacestodes of dilepidid tapeworms (Cyclophyllidea) occurring in fish from Mexico is presented. They belong to the following species (those first reported from Mexico marked with an asterisk): Cyclustera capito (Rudolphi, 1819); ^* Cyclustera cf. ralli (Underwood & Dronen, 1986); Dendrouterina pilherodiae Mahon, 1956; ^* Glossocercus auritus (Rudolphi, 1819); ^* G. caribaensis (Rysavy & Macko, 1973); ^* Paradilepis caballeroi Rysavy & Macko, 1973; ^* Paradilepis cf. urceus (Wedl, 1855); ^* Paradilepis sp.; Parvitaenia cochlearii Coil, 1955; ^* Parvitaenia macropeos (Wedl, 1855); ^* Valipora campylancristrota (Wedl, 1855); ^* V. mutabilis Linton, 1927; and ^* V. minuta (Coil, 1950). Metacestodes of Dendrouterina papillifera (Fuhrmann, 1908), previously reported from the gall-bladder of the pimelodid catfish Rhamdia guatemalensis from Mexico by Scholz et al. (1996), belong actually to V. minuta. Data on the morphology of metacestodes, their fish hosts and rate of infection, site and distribution in Mexico are provided.     

Diversity of Dilepididae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) revealed by cytogenetic analysis

Karyotypes of three dilepidid species: Molluscotaenia crassiscolex, Anomotaenia bacilligera and Dilepis undula, which have not been recorded previously, were studied using conventional Giemsa staining and comparative karyometric analysis. Twelve small biarmed chromosomes were observed in mitotic cells of M. crassiscolex, 16 biarmed chromosomes of gradually decreasing size were found in cells of A. bacilligera, while 18 elements were characteristic for D. undula. These data, together with information available in literature, prove the heterogeneity and possible polyphyletic nature of the family Dilepididae.     

Cestodes of birds from the Ivory Coast. Species of the genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1990

Five taxa included in the cestode genus Anonchotaenia (Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae) have been found in various birds from the Ivory Coast (West Africa). The hosts belong to the families Hirundinidae and Corvidae. A. (Paranonchotaenia) prionopos n. sp., parasitic in Prionops plumata, and A. (P.) malaconoti n. sp, parasitic in Malaconotus blanchoti, are placed in a new subgenus named Paranonchotaenia, which is erected for the Anonchotaenia species showing genital ducts passing between the longitudinal excretory stems. A. (P.) prionopos is characterised by a rather short cirrus-pouch, six to seven testes, and an integumental cavity at the distal extremity of the cirrus-pouch in gravid proglottides. A. (P.) malaconoti differs from the former species mainly by the larger cirrus-pouch and a slightly greater number of testes. The other three species are A. longiovata, parasitic in Hirundo semirufa; A. globata, parasitic in Psadiloprocne obscura (the latter two species are recorded from new hosts and new geographical areas); and Anonchotaenia sp., parasitic in Hirundo rustica. It is assumed that the subgenus A. (Anonchotaenia) is rather a parasite of the Passerida and that the subgenus A. (Paranonchotaenia) tends to be parasitic in the Corvida.This paper is a part of the author's thesis.This paper is a part of the author's thesis.     

A taxonomic revision of the Nematotaeniidae Lühe, 1910 (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea)

A taxonomic revision of the Nematotaeniidae, involving the examination of over 400 specimens, was undertaken. Some new taxonomic characters have been introduced to allow distinction of the various species. The family contains 18 recognized species in four genera. The genusNematotaenia Lühe, 1910 contains four species, namelyN. chantalae Dollfus, 1957,N. dispar (Goeze, 1782) Lühe, 1910,N. hylae Hickman, 1960, andN. tarentolae Lopez-Neyra, 1944.N. kashmirensis Fotedar, 1966,N. dollfusi, Yuen & Fernando, 1974 andN. viride Mokhtar-Maamouri & Chakroun, 1984 are considered junior synonyms ofN. dispar. N. aurangabadensis Chincholikar & Shinde, 1975,N. lopezneyrai Soler, 1945 andN. mabuiae Shinde, 1968 are consideredspecies inquirendae: the latter species probably belongs in the genusOochoristica Lühe, 1898 (Anoplocephalidae: Linstowiinae). The genusCylindrotaenia Jewell, 1916 is shown to possess two testes per segment and not one as originally proposed:Baerietta Hsü, 1935 is consequently synonymized withCylindrotaenia. Cylindrotaenia is divided into five species-groups on the basis of adult morphology. The first group contains two American species, namelyC. americana Jewell, 1916 andC. idahoensis (Waitz & Mehra, 1961) n. comb. The second group contains species from Australia and New Zealand, namelyC. allisonae (Schmidt, 1980), n. comb.,C. criniae (Hickman, 1960) n. comb.,C. decidua (Ainsworth, 1985) n. comb.,C. hickmani (Jones, 1985) n. comb. andC. minor (Hickman, 1960) n. comb. A third species group consists ofC. jaegerskioeldi (Janicki, 1926) n. comb.,C. magna n. sp. andC. philauti Crusz & Sanmugasunderam, 1971 and occurs in Africa, Sri Lanka and Japan. The fourth group, apparently restricted to Japan, contains a single species,C. japonica (Yamaguti, 1938) n. comb. The fifth group containsC. montana (Yamaguti, 1954) n. comb. and occurs in Japan and Tibet.C. quadrijugosa Lawler, 1939 is synonymized withC. americana, andBaerietta claviformis Yamaguti, 1954 is synonymized withC. japonica. C. baeri (Hsü, 1935) n. comb.,C. chilensis (Puga & Franjola, 1983) n. comb.,C. diana (Helfer, 1948) Lehmann, 1960,C. malayi (Yuen & Fernando, 1974) n. comb. andC. roonwali Nama, 1972 arespecies inquirendae. The genusDistoichometra, Dickey 1921 contains a single species, namelyD. bufonis Dickey, 1921.D. kozloffi Douglas, 1958 andBaerietta enteraneides (Helfer, 1948) Yamaguti, 1959 are reduced to synonymy withD. bufonis. Bitegmen n. g. is proposed to accomodate a single species,B. gerrhonoti (Telford, 1965) n. comb., which was previously included in the genusBaerietta. The present distribution of the Nematotaeniidae is largely related to that of their anuran hosts. Nematotaeniids probably arose in Gondwanaland.     

Brachylepis gen. n.--a new genus of cestodes (Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae) from shrews in Siberia and the Far East

A new genus Brachylepis gen. n. hymenolepididean cestodes associated with common shrews (Sorex) in Siberia and Russian Far East is created. These genus includes three species removed from the genus Mathevolepis: Brachylepis morosovi (Karpenko, 1994) comb. n. (type species), B. sorextscherskii (Morosov, 1957) comb. n. and B. triovaria Karpenko, 1990) comb. n. The new genus is characterized by the gradual strobila with a little number of segments, unarmed scolex with apical glandular organ, by lack of internal seminal vesicle and differential seminal receptacle, by form of uterus as horse shoe in young worms and buble-like in mature worms. A tendency of inverse proportional dependence between the number of uterus segments in the strobila and the number of hexacanths in the uterus has been noticed. The table of differential characters for the species of the genus Brachylepis is proposed.