Afrobaeria Haukisalmi, 2008

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 : 15-16

Afrobaeria Haukisalmi, 2008

(Fig. 6)

Diagnosis: Strobila fairly short and wide. Scolex not distinct from anterior strobila; short neck (unsegmented region) present. Suckers directed laterally or antero-laterally. Proglottides craspedote, much wider than long. Genitalia single. Genital pores irregularly and very frequently alternating, positioned in middle of proglottis margin. Genital atrium strong, capable of forming genital papilla. Genital ducts cross osmoregulatory canals dorsally. Internal and external seminal vesicles present. Cirrus sac short, may overlap or extend barely across ventral longitudinal canal. Retractor muscle of cirrus sac absent. Testes arranged in single transverse group in antiporal part of proglottis, overlapping or not extending to antiporal ventral longitudinal canal. Ovary small relative to proglottis size, rounded, densely lobed. Vagina long, extending markedly across ventral longitudinal canal; enters genital atrium ventral, postero-ventral or posterior to cirrus sac. Early uterus transverse, tubiform, with distinct lateral protuberances, positioned in middle of medulla (longitudinally and dorso-ventrally), not overlapping longitudinal osmoregulatory canals. Fully developed (pregravid) uterus arborescent, with separate anterior and posterior sacculi; transverse median trunk present. Pyriform apparatus present. Parasitic in African murid rodents. Type species: A. acanthocirrosa ( Baer, 1924) Haukisalmi, 2008 (syns. Paranoplocephala acanthocirrosa Baer, 1924 , Paranoplocephala otomyos Collins, 1972 ); cotypes MHNG 41784 and 41785 from the southern African vlei rat Otomys irroratus (Brants) . Other species: A. isomydis ( Setti, 1892) Haukisalmi, 2008 [syns. Taenia isomydis Setti, 1892 , Paranoplocephala isomydis ( Setti, 1892) Baer, 1949 , Anoplocephaloides isomydis ( Setti, 1892) Rausch, 1976 ].

FIGURE. 6. Afrobaeria spp. (redrawn from Haukisalmi 2008). A. Scolex of A. isomydis from Arvicanthis abyssinicus (holotype) (scale-bar 0.25 mm). B. Mature proglottis of A. acanthocirrosa from Otomys irroratus (scale-bar 0.50 mm). C. Pregravid uterus of A. acanthocirrosa from O. irroratus (scale-bar 0.50 mm).

Remarks. The most characteristic features of Afrobaeria are the robust anterior strobila (scolex not distinct), very frequently (and irregularly) alternating genital pores and median position (longitudinally and dorso-ventrally) of the early uterus (see also Haukisalmi 2008). This combination of features separates it unequivocally from all other species of Anoplocephaloides sensu Rausch (1976) (see also Haukisalmi 2008). Parasciurotaenia n. g. (below) and Equinia n. g. (below) resemble Afrobaeria in having a medially positioned early uterus (in longitudinal direction), strongly developed genital atrium, antiporal testes usually not overlapping the ventral longitudinal canal, long vagina and arborescent uterus; they differ from Afrobaeria by their larger body size ( Parasciurotaenia ), unilateral genital pores ( Parasciurotaenia , Equinia ), fewer testes ( Equinia ), longer cirrus sac ( Equinia ) and presence of a cirrus retractor muscle ( Parasciurotaenia , Equinia ).

The microhabitat of Afrobaeria spp. has not been specified.