Folia Parasitologica 49[4] 295-298 (2002) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2002.054

Anthobothrium altavelae sp. n. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from the spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela (Elasmobranchii: Gymnuridae) in Tunisia

Lassād Neifar1, Louis Euzet2, Oum Kalthoum Ben Hassine3
1 Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, B.P. 802, 3038, Sfax, Tunisie
2 Station Méditerranéenne de l'Environnement Littoral, Université Montpellier II, 1 Quai de la Daurade, 34200 Sète, France
3 Laboratoire de Biologie et Parasitologie marines, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, 2092, Tunis, Tunisie

Seven Gymnura altavela (Linnaeus, 1758) (Elasmobranchii, Myliobatiformes) caught off the Tunisian coast were examined for endoparasites during a three-year period (1995-1998). A phyllobothriid cestode new to science was found in the spiral intestine of all host specimens. The presence of a tetrabothridiate scolex, bothridia lacking an apical sucker, laciniate strobila, and possession of postvaginal testes are sufficient to place this species in the genus Anthobothrium Van Beneden, 1850. In this genus, we consider that only two species, both previously reported from carcharhiniform sharks, are valid: Anthobothrium cornucopia Van Beneden, 1850 and A. laciniatum Linton, 1890. Anthobothrium altavelae sp. n. can be distinguished from its congeners by its length, strobila morphology, and the number of testes. The taxonomic position of the species attributed to Anthobothrium parasitic in gymnurids is discussed.

Keywords: Anthobothrium altavelae, parasite, Tetraphyllidea, spiral intestine, Gymnura altavela, Elasmobranchii

Received: December 31, 2001; Accepted: May 14, 2002; Published: December 1, 2002  Show citation

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Neifar, L., Euzet, L., & Hassine, O.K.B. (2002). Anthobothrium altavelae sp. n. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea) from the spiny butterfly ray Gymnura altavela (Elasmobranchii: Gymnuridae) in Tunisia. Folia Parasitologica, 49(4), 295-298. doi: 10.14411/fp.2002.054
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