T. Genov

Paranoplocephala aquatica n. sp. (Cestoda, Anoplocephalidae) from Arvicola terrestris and Ondatra zibethica (Rodentia), with redescriptions and comments on related species

Paranoplocephala aquatica n. sp. is described from Arvicola terrestris and Ondatra zibethica (Rodentia, Cricetidae) in Bulgaria. The new species is characterised by a band-like strobila, a uterus forming a fine reticulate structure in the early stages of development, numerous testes (approximately 92) situated mainly aporally to the ovary in both the median and the aporal lateral fields, few testes positioned anterior to the ovary and genital ducts, the prominent asymmetrical situation of the female organs, the length of the vagina c. 0.65–0.68 of the length of the cirrus-sac, and the external seminal vesicle covered by a cellular sleeve. The new species is distinguished from P. ondatrae, P. macrocephala, P. dasymidis and P. sciuri. The specimens from O. zibethica reported as P. ondatrae by Tenora & Murai (1980) and as Aprostatandrya macrocephala by Spasskii et al. (1951) are believed to belong to P. aquatica. The type-series of P. ondatrae and P. macrocephala are redescribed and figured; metric data and an illustration of the holotype of P. sciuri are presented. The genus Paranoplocephala sensu Tenora et al. (1986) is regarded as a heterogeneous group because of the two patterns of uterine development in the species studied. Taxonomic criteria used for distinguishing the genera Andrya and Paranoplocephala, and some criteria applicable at the species level, are discussed.

The erection of Leporidotaenia n. g. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) for Anoplocephaloides spp. parasitising Leporidae (Lagomorpha)

Leporidotaenia n. g. is proposed for four cestode species parasitising Leporidae (Lagomorpha) which were previously considered as members of the genus Anoplocephaloides. The new genus is differentiated from Anoplocephaloides by the presence of a spinose covering on the tegument, the protrusible genital atrium, the massive cirrus-sac with highly developed musculature, the presence of a retractor muscle associated with the cirrus-sac, the posterior position of vaginal pore relative to the male orifice, the cirrus armed with long spines and its occurrence only in hosts of the family Leporidae (Lagomorpha). The genus includes: L. romerolagi (type-species), L. floresbarroetae, L. pseudowimerosa and L. wimerosa. the species (excluding L. floresbarroetae) are redescribed and figured and a differential key is presented. An attempt is made to explain the range of Leporidotaenia spp. in Central America and the western Palaearctic on the basis of the palaeozoogeography of rabbits and hares.

Palaearctic species of the genus Confluaria Ablasov (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae): a redescription and synonymy of C. capillaris (Rudolphi, 1810)

The types of Confluaria capillaris (Rudolphi, 1810) from Podiceps auritus in (?) Germany and the types of C. capillaroides (Fuhrmann, 1906) from Podiceps dominicus in Brazil are redescribed. C. capillaroides is recognised as a junior synonym of C. capillaris (new synonymy). Data on specimens of the same species from P. cristatus and P. grisegena in Bulgaria are also presented. The previous records of the two nominal species are critically analysed in view of the present redescriptions. The host range of C. capillaris includes only grebes of the genus Podiceps, i.e. P. auritus, P. cristatus, P. grisegena, P. dominicus and P. nigricollis; the records in other hosts (Gaviiformes, Charadriiformes and Passeriformes) are considered erroneous or doubtful. The geographical range includes Europe, Central Asia and northern South America.

Redescription of Chimaerula leonovi (Belogurov & Zueva, 1968) n. comb. (Cestoda, Dilepididae)

Chimaerula leonovi (Belogurov & Zueva, 1968) n. comb. (syns Liga leonovi, Himantaurus leonovi), a parasite of Charadrius spp. in the Palaearctic, is redescribed on the basis of specimens from C. alexandrinus (Aves, Charadriiformes, Charadriidae) from Bulgaria (new geographical record). The new material differs from the original description in some metrical characters: the general measurements of the strobila and the number of proglottides, and measurements of the scolex, rostellar sheath, cirrus-sac and copulatory vagina. The generic diagnosis of Chimaerula Bona, 1994 is amended in order to conform with the morphology of C. leonovi.

Redescription and new records of Mackoja podirufi (Macko, 1962), with an amended diagnosis of Mackoja Kornyushin, 1983 (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae).

Mackoja podirufi (Macko, 1962) [synonyms Echinocotyle podirufi Macko, 1962; Podicipitilepis laticauda of Korpaczewska, 1974] is recorded from grebes Tachybaptus ruficollis and Podiceps nigricollis in Bulgaria (new geographical record) and from T. ruficollis in Germany (new geographical record). The species is redescribed on the basis of specimens from Bulgaria and Germany plus paratypes from Slovakia. In contrast to the original description, an external seminal vesicle and a cirrus-stylet are observed, while an accessory sac is absent. The diagnosis of the monotypic genus Mackoja Kornyushin, 1983 is amended. Mackoja is considered to be similar to the genus Podicipitilepis Yamaguti, 1956, with the type-species P. laticauda Yamaguti, 1956, described from T. ruficollis in Japan. A hypothesis is proposed recognising M. podirufi and P. laticauda as geographical vicariants.

Spalacina yanchevi n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from the lesser mole rat Spalax leucodon (Rodentia: Spalacidae)

Spalacina n. g. (Heligmonellidae, Nippostrongylinae) is erected for S. yanchevi n. sp. (type-species) [syns Heligmonina nevoi of Genov & Janchev (1982) and Genov (1984)] from Spalax leucodon (Spalacidae) and two other species from spalacid rodents previously considered as members of Heligmonina Baylis, 1928: S. spalacis (Sharpilo, 1973) n. comb. and S. nevoi (Wertheim & Durette-Desset, 1975) n. comb. The new genus belongs to the subfamily Nippostrongylinae and is closely related to the genus Heligmonina from which it can be distinguished by a greater angle of rotation of the synlophe, the absence of a gradient on the ventral ridges and a weakly developed right dorsal ridge. The zoogeographical distribution of Spalacina spp. is associated with that of Palaearctic spalacids. S. yanchevi differs from S. spalacis and S. nevoi in the number and size of the ridges, the distance between the extremities of the rays 6 and 8, the degree of reduction of the dorsal ray and the length of the spicules.