Dilepididae, Fuhrmann, 1907

Mariaux, Jean & Georgiev, Boyko B., 2018, Seven new species of cestode parasites (Neodermata, Platyhelminthes) from Australian birds, European Journal of Taxonomy 440, pp. 1-42 : 16-17

Dilepididae indet.

Material examined

AUSTRALIA: about 12 specs, Victoria, Healesville Sanctuary, 37°41′ S, 145°32′ E, 2002, Dave Middleton leg. (AHC 36488).

Host

Menura novaehollandiae Latham, 1801 (syn. M. superba Davies, 1802 ) ( Passeriformes , Menuridae ).

Description

This material is in poor state of conservation with contracted and (or) macerated partial strobila and no intact scolex. Scolex width 300–370 (338, n = 3) in diameter; suckers muscular 125–208 (164, n = 12) in diameter. Rostellum 225–255 × 85–137. A single scolex bears an incomplete series of hooks with length 21–25 (23.5, n = 8) ( Fig. 39 ). Worms are much larger and wider than M. australiense (up to 26 mm long and 2.6 mm wide observed, although complete worms should be even larger). The overall anatomy is similar, in particular the few observable rostellar hooks are of the same size and shape as in M. australiense , but, among the observable characters, it seems to have more testes (ca 35–40), a vagina lined with setae and a slightly larger cirrus-sac. The cirrus is armed with well-marked small spines. The available material does not allow for a description but hints at the possible diversity of Dilepididae within lyrebirds.

Genus Dictymetra Clark, 1952

Figures

Figs 39–41. 39. Dilepididae genus sp. Hooks. 40. Passerilepis sp. Hooks. 41. Cracticotaenia fieldingi (Maplestone & Southwell, 1923) Hooks. Scale bars: 39–41 = 20 µm.