Anthocephalum decrisantisorum, Ruhnke, Timothy R., Caira, Janine N. & Cox, Allison, 2015

Ruhnke, Timothy R., Caira, Janine N. & Cox, Allison, 2015, The cestode order Rhinebothriidea no longer family-less: A molecular phylogenetic investigation with erection of two new families and description of eight new species of Anthocephalum, Zootaxa 3904 (1), pp. 51-81 : 59

Anthocephalum decrisantisorum n. sp.

( Figs. 1 A, 2A–B, 3A–E)

Type host. Himantura uarnacoides (Bleeker) , whitenose whipray.

Type locality. Sulu Sea off Beluran (05°53'52.04"S, 117°33'21.29"E), Sabah, Malaysian Borneo (BO–91).

Additional localities: Makassar Strait off Gusungnge, Indonesian Borneo (03°36'46.10"S, 115°55'05.10"E) (KA–81).

Site of infection. Spiral intestine.

Type material. Holotype ( MZUM [P] 2014.3[H]); 1 paratype ( MZUM [P] 2014.4[P]); 3 paratypes ( USNM 1251807–1251809), 1 paratype ( MZB Ca 194), 5 paratypes (LRP 8520–8524), hologenophore (LRP 8511).

Etymology. The species is named for Hilary and Paul DeCrisantis—an honor well earned.

Description. Based on 16 whole mounts and 3 scoleces prepared for SEM. Worms slightly craspedote, euapolytic, 6.2–15.8 mm long, with 20–33 proglottids; maximum width 210–750 at scolex. Scolex with 4 bothridia and short cephalic peduncle. Bothridia stalked, weakly folded, with 75–86 marginal loculi and oval apical sucker; apical sucker 35–44 long by 40–60 wide. Proximal surfaces of bothridial rims covered with acicular filitriches; proximal surfaces of marginal loculi nearest rims densely covered with small scolopate spinitriches and acicular filitriches ( Figures 3 B, C); proximal non-locular bothridial surfaces covered with acicular filitriches ( Figure 3 D). Distal bothridial surfaces and distal surfaces of apical sucker covered with small gladiate spinitriches and capilliform filitriches ( Figure 3 E).

Immature proglottids initially wider than long, becoming much longer than wide with maturity, length:width ratio at mid-strobila 1–4:1. Terminal proglottid 1,240–2,140 long by 120–220 wide, length:width ratio 6–18:1. Testes 17–24 in number, round to slightly oblong, 12–50 long by 12–45 wide, arranged in 2 regular columns anterior to cirrus-sac. Cirrus-sac posteriorly recurved, 150–228 long by 80–162 wide, containing coiled cirrus; cirrus armed with spinitriches. Vas deferens dorsal, coiled anterior to cirrus-sac, expanded and descending to ovarian bridge. Genital pores lateral, with conspicuous musculature, 42–61% of proglottid length from posterior end, irregularly alternating. Vagina sinuous, extends from Mehlis’ gland anteriorly, then ventral and lateral to cirrus-sac, opening into genital atrium. Ovary near posterior end of proglottid, follicular, H-shaped in frontal view, essentially symmetrical, 280–640 long by 45–120 wide. Ovicapt at posterior margin of ovarian bridge, ventral, 25–50 in diameter. Uterus median, ventral, extending from anterior margin of ovicapt to anterior margin of proglottid; uterine duct inconspicuous. Vitellarium follicular; follicles 10–25 long by 30–50 wide, in 2 lateral bands; each band consisting of 2–3 dorsal and 2–3 ventral irregular columns of follicles, extending from near anterior to near posterior margin of proglottid, interrupted by ovary and cirrus-sac, post-poral follicles present. Excretory ducts lateral, consisting of 1 dorsal and 1 ventral pair.

Remarks. With respect to the nine valid species of Anthocephaum, A. decrisantisorum n. sp. differs from all except Anthocephalum alicae , A. kingae and A. michaeli in having testes arranged in two regular, rather than multiple, columns. This new species is readily distinguished from A. alicae , A. kingae and A. michaeli in its possession of fewer testes (17–24 vs. 31–45, 30–37 and 30–49, respectively). It further differs from A. alicae in proglottid number (20–33 vs. 9–15), and from A. kingae and A. michaeli in its possession of an extremely muscular, rather than non-muscular, genital pore.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Line drawings of Anthocephalum n. spp. A. Anthocephalum decrisantisorum n. sp., paratype (LRP 8523). B. Anthocephalum healyae n. sp., holotype (QM G 234600), not all anterior proglottids shown. C. Anthocephalum jensenae n. sp., holotype (QM G 234603). D. Anthocephalum mattisi n. sp., holotype (MNHN HEL 433). E. Anthocephalum meadowsi n. sp., holotype (QM G 234607). F. Anthocephalum odonnellae n. sp., holotype (MZUM [P] 2014.5 [H]). G. Anthocephalum papefayei n. sp., paratype (LRP 8549). H. Anthocephalum philruschi n. sp., (LRP 8555). For comparative purposes, all drawings are at same scale.

FIGURE 3. Scanning electron micrographs of Anthocephalum decrisantisorum n. sp. and Anthocephalum healyae n. sp. A. A. decrisantisorum n. sp., scolex. Letters indicate locations of Figures 3 C – D. B. A. decrisantisorum n. sp., marginal loculi. Letter indicates location of Figure 3 C. C. A. decrisantisorum n. sp., proximal surface of marginal loculus near bothridial rim. D. A. decrisantisorum n. sp., proximal surface of bothridium. E. A. decrisantisorum n. sp., distal surface of bothridium. F. A. healyae n. sp., scolex. Letters indicate locations of Figures 3 H – J. B. G. A. healyae n. sp., marginal loculi. Letter indicates location of Figure 3 H. H. A. healyae n. sp., proximal surface of marginal loculus near bothridial rim. I. A. healyae n. sp., proximal surface of bothridium. J. A. healyae n. sp., distal surface of bothridium.