Equinia

Haukisalmi, Voitto, 2009, A taxonomic revision of the genus Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 sensu Rausch (1976), with the description of four new genera (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae), Zootaxa 2057, pp. 1-31 : 21

Equinia n. g.

(Fig. 11)

Etymology: The name of the genus is derived from the definitive host of E. mamillana .

Diagnosis: Strobila short and wide. Suckers directed laterally. Short neck (unsegmented region) present. Proglottides craspedote, much wider than long. Genitalia single. Genital pores unilateral, in middle of proglottis margin or posteriad. Genital atrium strong, capable of forming prominent genital papilla. Genital ducts cross osmoregulatory canals dorsally. Internal and external seminal vesicles present. Cirrus sac long and slender, extending well beyond ventral longitudinal canal. Retractor muscle of cirrus sac present. Testes arranged in single transverse group in antiporal part of proglottis; do not overlap antiporal ventral longitudinal canal. Ovary small, rounded, slightly poral, densely lobed. Vagina long, extending well beyond ventral longitudinal canal. Early uterus transverse tube, median in longitudinal direction, not overlapping longitudinal osmoregulatory canals; position of poral end variable with respect to cirrus sac. Fully developed (pregravid) uterus arborescent, with separate anterior and posterior sacculi; transverse median trunk present. Female reproductive organs mature slightly earlier than male organs; testes resorbed simultaneously with female glands. Pyriform apparatus present. Parasitic in perissodactyls (horse). Type species: E. mamillana (Mehlis in Gurlt, 1831) n. comb. [syns. Taenia mamillana Mehlis in Gurlt, 1831, Anoplocephala mamillana (Mehlis in Gurlt, 1831) Blanchard, 1891, Anoplocephaloides mamillana (Mehlis in Gurlt, 1831) Baer, 1923], from Equus caballus Linnaeus (horse); holotype not assigned.

Remarks. Equinia has a median (in longitudinal direction) early uterus that does not overlap the ventral longitudinal canals at any stage, thus resembling Afrobaeria and Parasciurotaenia . It differs from these genera in its shorter body ( Parasciurotaenia ), unilateral genital pores ( Afrobaeria , Parasciurotaenia ), type of the cirrus sac and presence of a retractor muscle ( Afrobaeria ). In its general anatomy, it also resembles Flabelloskrjabinia , another parasite of perissodactyls, but differs from the latter genus by its significantly smaller body, presence of a short neck, fewer testes and median position of the early uterus (in longitudinal direction). For redescriptions of E. mamillan a, see Stiles (1896) and Spasskii (1951).

Equinia mamillana inhabits the small intestine of its host; region not specified ( Spasskii 1951).