Description

Description. [Based on 50 mature specimens: 47 whole mounts, one worm observed with SEM, and two prepared as cross-sections]. Worms acraspedote (Fig. 5), euapolytic, 2.2 – 7.4 mm (n = 47) long, composed of 26 – 68 (n = 47) proglottids. Scolex 237 – 376 (n = 8) in maximum width composed of four stalked and billobed bothridia constricted at center, with muscular rims (Fig. 6 A, 7 A). Bothridia 280 – 461 (n = 9) long by 111 – 202 (n = 9) wide, divided by 17 – 22 (n = 15) transverse septa and one medial longitudinal septum into 34 – 44 (n = 15) loculi; anteriormost and posterior-most loculus single. Anterior-most loculus 18 – 26 (n = 10) long by 29 – 41 (n = 10) wide. Cephalic peduncle absent. Proximal and distal surface of bothridia covered with acicular filitriches and gladiate spinitriches (Fig. 7 C – G), except for anterior loculus with acicular filitriches only (Fig. 7 B). Anterior portion of strobila covered with capilliform filitriches (Fig. 7 H). Immature proglottids wider than long, becoming as long as wide within the anterior third of the strobila (13 – 30 %, n = 39) thereafter, longer than wide with maturity, 19 – 56 (n = 47) in number (Fig. 5). Terminal mature proglottids (Fig. 6 B, D) 218 – 554 (n = 42) long by 67 – 146 (n = 43) wide, 4 – 14 (n = 47) in number. Some terminal proglottids with sperm-filled vas deferens and atrophied testes (Fig. 6 B). Testes in two irregular columns, in anterior ¾ of proglottid, oval, 20 – 43 (n = 27) long by 17 – 34 (n = 27) wide, 4 (n = 47) in number (Fig. 6 D, 8 A). Cirrus sac in anterior ½ of proglottid, spherical to pyriform in shape, 33 – 59 (n = 39) long by 37 – 83 (n = 39) wide, containing coiled cirrus; cirrus armed with spinitriches (Fig. 6 C). Genital atrium prominent. Genital pores 31 – 49 % (n = 42) of proglottid length from anterior end, irregularly alternating. Vagina opening into genital atrium anterior to cirrus sac, thick-walled, weakly sinuous, somewhat enlarged in proximal part, with antero-medial portion adjacent to cirrus sac, both directed laterally to common genital atrium. Vaginal sphincter absent. Ovary near posterior end of proglottid, inverted A-shaped in frontal view and tetra-lobed in cross-section (Fig. 8 B), symmetrical, 89 – 316 (n = 40) long by 39 – 79 (n = 40) wide at isthmus (Fig. 6 B). Vitelline follicles extending length of proglottid, longer 5 – 15 (n = 14) than wide 4 – 12 (n = 14). Detached gravid proglottids and eggs not observed.

Common Names

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Platyhelminthes

Class: Cestoda

Order: Rhinebothriidea

Family: Rhinebothriidae

Genus: Rhinebothrium

Species: Rhinebothrium reydai Trevisan & Marques, 2017