Myzophyllobothrium rubrum Shipley and Hornell, 1906

Jensen, Kirsten, Pen, Isabel A. M. & Caira, Janine N., 2021, A revision of the Rhoptrobothriidae (Cestoda: “ Tetraphyllidea ”), Zootaxa 4999 (3), pp. 201-218 : 207

Myzophyllobothrium rubrum Shipley and Hornell, 1906

( Fig. 4A )

Type and only known host: Whitespotted eagle ray, Aetobatus ocellatus (as Aetobatis [sic] narinari ) ( Myliobatiformes : Aetobatidae ).

Type locality: Puttalam Lake , Sri Lanka (as Ceylon) .

Additional localities: None.

Site of infection: Spiral intestine.

Specimens examined: BMNH nos. 2006.7.14.1–3, three slides identified by Southwell (1925) as Myzophyllobothrium rubrum (see Jensen and Caira 2006).

Sequence data: None.

Remarks. Joyeux and Baer (1961) resolved the issue surrounding the two different interpretations of the scolex of this species presented by Shipley and Hornell (1906). In their figure of the scolex of one of the co-types of the species, Joyeux and Baer (1961; fig. 290) illustrated the anterior region of the scolex to clearly consist of four biloculate bothridia rather than four simple suckers. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate the co-types of this species. The specimens of M. rubrum on the three slides examined here were reported by Southwell (1925) as having been collected from the type host and locality. Unfortunately, all of these specimens are in relatively poor condition, and include only one scolex. We did not consider this material to be of sufficient quality to allow re-description of this species. Nonetheless, given the paucity of information available on the proglottid anatomy of M. rubrum , a photograph of the posterior region of a mature proglottid of one of these specimens is presented in Fig. 4A .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Photomicrographs of Myzophyllobothrium rubrum Shipley and Hornell, 1906 from Aetobatus ocellatus from Sri Lanka (A) and Myzophyllobothrium narinari (Shipley and Hornell, 1906) n. comb. from Aetobatus ocellatus from Sri Lanka (B–E). A. Posterior region of mature proglottid (BMNH nos. 2006.7.14.1–3) of voucher specimen of M. rubrum from Southwell (1925). B. Longitudinal section through scolex of M. narinari; arrowhead points to region of cephalic peduncle between bothridia from remi. C. Cross section through scolex of M. narinari at level of remi posterior to bothridia. D. Cross section through mature proglottid of M. narinari at level of anterior to cirrus sac. E. Cross section through mature proglottid of M. narinari at level of ovary anterior to ovarian bridge.Abbreviations: MG, Mehlis’ gland; O, ovary; T, testes; V, vitelline follicles; VE, ventral excretory vessel.