Two new species of Acanthobothrium are reported from freshwater stingrays in northern South America. Acanthobothrium quinonesi sp. n. is described from Potamotrygon magdalenae Dumeril collected from the Magdalena River in northern Colombia and A. amazonensis sp. n. from P. circularis Garman collected in the Itacuai River of northwestern Brazil. Acanthobothrium quinonesi differs from A. amazonensis by having a smaller and anteriorly-curved cirrus sac, 43-60 rather than 50-72 testes, and bothridial hooks 100-142 μm long rather than 145-184 μm long. Characters used in the taxonomy of Acanthobothrium species are listed to show that the new species resemble each other and A. terezae, also from a South American freshwater stingray, more than they do any other members of the genus

Brooks, Daniel R.

Mayes, Monte A.

Thorson, Thomas B.

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of 10-1978 Two New Species of Acanthobothrium Van Beneden 1849 (Cestoidea: Tetraphyllidea) from Freshwater Stingrays in South America Monte A. Mayes University of Pennsylvania Daniel R. Brooks University of Toronto, dnlbrooks@gmail.com Thomas B. Thorson University of Nebraska-Lincoln Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs  Part of the Parasitology Commons Mayes, Monte A.; Brooks, Daniel R.; and Thorson, Thomas B., "Two New Species of Acanthobothrium Van Beneden 1849 (Cestoidea: Tetraphyllidea) from Freshwater Stingrays in South America" (1978). Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. 259. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs/259 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 1. Parasitol., 64 (5 ), 1978, pp. 838-841© American Society of Parasitologists 1978TWO NEW SPECIES OF ACANTHOBOTHRIUM VAN BENEDEN1849 (CESTOIDEA: TETRAPHYLLIDEA) FROM FRESHWATERSTINGRAYS IN SOUTH AMERICA*Monte A. Mayes,t Daniel R. Brooks,t and Thomas B. Thorson§ABSTRACT : Two new species of Acanthobothrium are reported from freshwater stingrays in northernSouth America. Acanthobothrium quinonesi sp. n. is described from Potamotrygon magdalenae Dumerilcollected from the Magdalena River in northern Colombia and A. amazonensis sp. n. from P. circularisGarman collected in the Itacuai River of northwestern Brazil. Acanthobothrium quinonesi differs fromA. amazonensis by having a smaller and anteriorly-curved cirrus sac, 43-60 rather than 50-72 testes, andbothridial hooks 100--142 ,urn long rather than 145-184 ,urn long. Characters used in the taxonomy ofAcanthobothrium species are listed to show that the new species resemble each other and A. terezae, alsofrom a South American freshwater stingray, more than they do any other members of the genus.Species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden1849 parasitize a variety of marine and estua-rine elasmobranchs (Goldstein, 1967; Williams,1969) . Collections from the freshwater sting-rays Potamotrygon magdalenae Dumeril in theMagdalena River of Colombia and from P.circularis Garman in th e Itacuai River ofBrazil, contained specimens of two new speciesof Acanthobothrium which resemble each othermore than they do any other known species.Worms were removed from host spiral valves,examined alive and fixed with warm AFA, orfixed in situ with 10% formalin; all were storedin 70 % ethanol. Study included examinationof whole mounts stained with Mayer's hema-toxylin and mounted in Canada balsam as wellas study of serial cross sections cut at 8 p.mand stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Measure-ments are in urn unless otherwise stated withnumber of measurements (N) and mean values(x) indicated for certain characteristics. Fig-ures were drawn with the aid of a drawing tube.Acanthobothr;um qu;nones; sp. n.(Figs. 1-3)Description (based on 15 specimens): Strobilaacraspedote, apolytic, up to 25 mm long; composedReceived for publication 27 January 1978.* Funds for this study were provided through agrant from the National Geographic Societyto T.B.T.t Department of Pathobiology, School of Veter-inary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.t Department of Biology, University of Mississippi,University, Mississippi 38677.§ School of Life Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588.838of 55-75 segments (N = 15). Scolex 508-620(x = 550, N = 15) wide, composed of 4 sessile,triseptate bothridia; each bothridium with apicalsucker and pad , armed with pair of bifid hooks.Bothridia 367-479 (x = 425, N = 25) long by282-310 (x =300) wide ; anterior loculus 158-226(x = 190) long, middle loculus 56-68 (x = 59)long, posterior loculus 68-85 (x = 75) long. Ratioof loculi lengths 1 : 0.3 : 0.4. Apical suckers 53-66(x =60, N =25) in diameter, pads 118-156 (x =135) wide. Hook formula (modified from that ofEuzet , 1956) for 32 hooks:41 ± 9 (34-53) 87 ± 21 (66--108) 60 ± (53-74)118 ± 21 (100-142)Cephalic peduncle unspined, 134-237 long, 400-500 wide at insertion to scolex. Immature pro-glottids wider than long; mature proglottids 885-1,575 long by 330-390 wide. Testes in anterior %of proglottid, 43-60 (x = 52, N = 25) in number,21-40 in diameter; 14-23 preporally, 3-7 post-porally, 21-35 antiporally, Cirrus sac near mid-proglottid, 137-237 long by 66--92 wide, curvedanteriorly, containing spined eversible cirrus.Genital atrium indistinct. Genital pore 52-59%(x =55%, N =25) of total proglottid length fromanterior end, irregularly alternating. Vagina ante-rior to cirrus sac; vaginal sphincter present. Ovarynear posterior end of proglottid, H-shaped in frontalview, X-shaped in cross section, 175-330 long by113-141 wide at isthmus; ovarian lobes equal inlength , not reaching level of posterior margin ofcirrus sac. Vitelline follicles extending from levelof ovarian isthmus to near anterior end of pro-glottid ; follicles 5-8 in diameter.Host: Potomotrygon magdalenae Dumeril.Locality: Magdalena River, Cienaga Iobo, vi-cinity of San Crist6bal, Bolivar, Colombia.Site of infection: Middle third of spiral valve.Holotype: USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74804.Paratypes: USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74805; Univ,Nebraska State Museum, Manter Lab. No. 74806.Etymology: The species is named in honor ofDr. Guillermo Quifiones Gonzalez, director of theINDERENA laboratory at San Crist6bal.MAYES ET AL.-TWO NEW ACANTHOBOTHRIUM SPP. FROM STINGRAYS IN SOUTH AMERICA 839csoUl'--- -.-1 6FIGURES 1-3. Acanthobothrium quinonesi . 1. Scolex. 2. BothridiaI hooks. 3. Mature proglottid.FIGURES 4-6. Acanthobothrium amazonensis. 4. Scolex. 5. Bothridial hooks. 6. Mature proglottid.840 THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY, VOL. 64, NO.5. OCTOBER 1978RemarksAcanthobothrium quinonesi and the secondnew species described in this report mostclosely resemble A. terezae Rego and Dias1977, the only other species known to infectfreshwater stingrays. Acanthobothrium quino-nesi differs from A. terezae by having a smallerscolex (maximum width 620 ,urn rather than3.0 mm) and bothridia (maximum length of479 ,urn rather than 1.59 mm), by possessing55-75 rather than 200-260 proglottids perstrobila, and by exhibiting 43-60 rather than120-140 testes per proglottid. The bothridialhooks of A. terezae, A. quinonesi, and thesecond new species described herein all exhibitthe same dimorphism (see Figs. 2 and 5 ofthis paper as well as Figs. 6 and 7 of Rego andDias, 1977) wherein one of the inner prongsof each pair of hooks is longer and more robustthan the other; hooks of A. terezae may reach326 ,urn in total length whereas those of A.quinonesi reach only 142 ,urn in total length,however.Acanthabathrium amazanensis sp, n.(Figs . 4-6)Description (based on 10 specimens): Strobilaacraspedote, apolytic, up to 35 mm long; composedof 75-100 proglottids. Scolex 612-790 (x = 700,N = 10) wide, composed of 4 sessile, triseptatebothridia; each bothridium with apical sucker andpad, armed with pair of bifid hooks. Bothridia508-620 (x = 560, N = 25) long by 300--423 (x =360) wide; anterior loculus 282-378 (x = 325)long, middle loculus 56-113 (x = 85) long,posterior loculus 45-96 (x = 70) long. Ratio ofloculi length 1 : 0.25 : 0.20. Apical suckers 85-107(X = 100) in diameter, pads 158-197 (x = 180)wide. Hook formula (modified from that of Euzet,1956) for 40 hooks:53 -+- 9 (47-62) 105 -+-17 (74-136) 112 -+- 15 (87-137)168 ± 12 (145 184)Cephalic peduncle unspined, 423-677 long, 550-725 wide at insertion to scolex. Immature pro-glottids wider than long; mature ones 738-2,100long by 390-975 wide. Testes in anterior %, ofproglottid, 50-72 (x = 62, N = 25) in number,45-113 long by 36-113 wide; 17-30 preporally,3-7 postporally, 25-37 antiporally. Cirrus sac nearmid-proglottid, 243-293 long by 96-152 wide, notcurved anteriorly, containing spined eversible cirrus.Genital atrium small. Genital pore 41-560/0 (x =49%, N = 25) of proglottid length from anteriorend, alternating irregularly. Vagina anterior tocirrus sac; vaginal sphincter present. Ovary nearposterior end of proglottid, H-shaped in frontalview, X-shaped in cross section, 141-564 long by181-451 wide at isthmus; ovarian lobes follicular,equal in length, not reaching level of posteriormargin of cirrus sac. Vitelline follicles extendingfrom level of ovarian isthmus to near anterior end ofproglottid; follicles 11-45 long by 6-45 wide.Host: Potamotrygon circularis Garman.Locality: Itacuai River, 5 km south Atalaia doNorte, Brazil.Site of infection: Spiral valve.Holotype : USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74806.Paratypes: USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74807;Manter Lab. No. 20562.Etymology: The species is named for the AmazonRegion where its host resides.RemarksAcanthobothrium amazonensis most closelyresembles A. quinonesi but differs by possess-ing highly lobate ovarian lobes, more testes(x = 62 rather than 52), smaller bothridialhooks (maximum total length = 184 ratherthan 142 um ) and by having a cirrus sac whichis not curved anteriorly.The taxonomy of species of Acanthobothriumhas been based primarily on comparison of 17characters: shape of bothridial hooks (1) ; sizeof bothridial hooks (2) ; number of testes (3);distribution of testes (4); location of genitalpore (5); number of accessory suckers (6);shape of ovary (7); relative length of ovarianlobes (8); number of proglottids per strobila(9) ; presence or absence of prominent genitalatrium (10); relative neck width (11); relativebothridial width (12); size of cirrus sac (13);shape of cirrus sac (14); presence or absenceof strobilar spination (15); size of scolex andstrobila (16) ; and relative length of cephalicpeduncle (17) . Acanthobothrium quinonesiand A. amazonensis resemble each other bysharing identical characters 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10,11, 12, 15, and 17. Among the seven othercharacters, there is overlap in variation betweenthe two species in genital pore location, testesnumber, and scolex size, and near overlap inbothridial hook size and cirrus sac size. Thefollicular nature of the ovarian lobes of A.amazonensis and the anteriorly curved cirrussac of A. quinonesi constitute characteristicdifferences. Acanthobothrium terezae, alsofrom a neotropical freshwater stingray, agreesMAYES ET AL.-TWO NEW ACANTHOBOTHRIUM SPP. FROM STI NGRAYS IN SOUTH AMERICA 841with A. quinonesi and A. amazonensis in fea-tur es of characters 1, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, and17. We th erefore consider the three specie sfrom freshwater stingrays in South Americadistinct but more similar to each other thanto any other known species.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWe express appreciation to the followingpeople: Augusto Samper , INDERENA-Bogot a ; Adolfo Baron Porras , DirectorINDERENA-Laboratory, Cartagena; Ms.Consuelo Teran, Biologist-INDERENA Car-tagena; Mr. James Durkin, Peace Corps-Cartagena ; Guillermo Quinones Gonzalez,INDERENA-San Cristobal ; Mr. Michael Tsa-lickis, Leticia, and Mr. Hans Heinrich, Bogota,for their aid dur ing th is study.LITERATURE CITEDEUZET, L. 1956. Theses present ees a la Facultedes Sciences de MontpeIIie r pour obtenir Iegrade de Docteur es Sciences NatureIIes: l.Recherches sur les Cestodes Tetraph yllides desselaciens des cotes de France. Causse, Graille,and Castelnau , Montp eIIier, 263 p.GOLDSTEIN, R. J. 1967. Th e genus Acantho-bothrium van Beneden , 1849 (C estoda : Tetr a-phyllidea ). J Parasitol 53: 455-483.REGO, A. A., AND A. P. L. DIAS. 1977. Estudosde cest6ides de peixes do Brasil 3.' nota :cest6ides de raias fluviais paratrygonidae. RevBrasil Bioi 36: 941-956.WILLIAMS, H. H. 1969. The genus Acantho-bothrium van Bened en 1849 (C estoda : Tetra-phyllidea ) , Nytt Mag Zoo117: 1-56.

Two New Species of \u3ci\u3eAcanthobothrium\u3c/i\u3e Van Beneden 1849 (Cestoidea: Tetraphyllidea) from Freshwater Stingrays in South America

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter 
Laboratory of Parasitology Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of 
10-1978 
Two New Species of Acanthobothrium Van Beneden 1849 
(Cestoidea: Tetraphyllidea) from Freshwater Stingrays in South 
America 
Monte A. Mayes 
University of Pennsylvania 
Daniel R. Brooks 
University of Toronto, dnlbrooks@gmail.com 
Thomas B. Thorson 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs 
 Part of the Parasitology Commons 
Mayes, Monte A.; Brooks, Daniel R.; and Thorson, Thomas B., "Two New Species of Acanthobothrium Van 
Beneden 1849 (Cestoidea: Tetraphyllidea) from Freshwater Stingrays in South America" (1978). Faculty 
Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. 259. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs/259 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of at 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications from 
the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of 
Nebraska - Lincoln. 
1. Parasitol., 64 (5 ), 1978, pp. 838-841
© American Society of Parasitologists 1978
TWO NEW SPECIES OF ACANTHOBOTHRIUM VAN BENEDEN
1849 (CESTOIDEA: TETRAPHYLLIDEA) FROM FRESHWATER
STINGRAYS IN SOUTH AMERICA*
Monte A. Mayes,t Daniel R. Brooks,t and Thomas B. Thorson§
ABSTRACT : Two new species of Acanthobothrium are reported from freshwater stingrays in northern
South America. Acanthobothrium quinonesi sp. n. is described from Potamotrygon magdalenae Dumeril
collected from the Magdalena River in northern Colombia and A. amazonensis sp. n. from P. circularis
Garman collected in the Itacuai River of northwestern Brazil. Acanthobothrium quinonesi differs from
A. amazonensis by having a smaller and anteriorly-curved cirrus sac, 43-60 rather than 50-72 testes, and
bothridial hooks 100--142 ,urn long rather than 145-184 ,urn long. Characters used in the taxonomy of
Acanthobothrium species are listed to show that the new species resemble each other and A. terezae, also
from a South American freshwater stingray, more than they do any other members of the genus.
Species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden
1849 parasitize a variety of marine and estua-
rine elasmobranchs (Goldstein, 1967; Williams,
1969) . Collections from the freshwater sting-
rays Potamotrygon magdalenae Dumeril in the
Magdalena River of Colombia and from P.
circularis Garman in th e Itacuai River of
Brazil, contained specimens of two new species
of Acanthobothrium which resemble each other
more than they do any other known species.
Worms were removed from host spiral valves,
examined alive and fixed with warm AFA, or
fixed in situ with 10% formalin; all were stored
in 70 % ethanol. Study included examination
of whole mounts stained with Mayer's hema-
toxylin and mounted in Canada balsam as well
as study of serial cross sections cut at 8 p.m
and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Measure-
ments are in urn unless otherwise stated with
number of measurements (N) and mean values
(x) indicated for certain characteristics. Fig-
ures were drawn with the aid of a drawing tube.
Acanthobothr;um qu;nones; sp. n.
(Figs. 1-3)
Description (based on 15 specimens): Strobila
acraspedote, apolytic, up to 25 mm long; composed
Received for publication 27 January 1978.
* Funds for this study were provided through a
grant from the National Geographic Society
to T.B.T.
t Department of Pathobiology, School of Veter-
inary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104.
t Department of Biology, University of Mississippi,
University, Mississippi 38677.
§ School of Life Sciences, University of Nebraska-
Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588.
838
of 55-75 segments (N = 15). Scolex 508-620
(x = 550, N = 15) wide, composed of 4 sessile,
triseptate bothridia; each bothridium with apical
sucker and pad , armed with pair of bifid hooks.
Bothridia 367-479 (x = 425, N = 25) long by
282-310 (x =300) wide ; anterior loculus 158-226
(x = 190) long, middle loculus 56-68 (x = 59)
long, posterior loculus 68-85 (x = 75) long. Ratio
of loculi lengths 1 : 0.3 : 0.4. Apical suckers 53-66
(x =60, N =25) in diameter, pads 118-156 (x =
135) wide. Hook formula (modified from that of
Euzet , 1956) for 32 hooks:
41 ± 9 (34-53) 87 ± 21 (66--108) 60 ± (53-74)
118 ± 21 (100-142)
Cephalic peduncle unspined, 134-237 long, 400-
500 wide at insertion to scolex. Immature pro-
glottids wider than long; mature proglottids 885-
1,575 long by 330-390 wide. Testes in anterior %
of proglottid, 43-60 (x = 52, N = 25) in number,
21-40 in diameter; 14-23 preporally, 3-7 post-
porally, 21-35 antiporally, Cirrus sac near mid-
proglottid, 137-237 long by 66--92 wide, curved
anteriorly, containing spined eversible cirrus.
Genital atrium indistinct. Genital pore 52-59%
(x =55%, N =25) of total proglottid length from
anterior end, irregularly alternating. Vagina ante-
rior to cirrus sac; vaginal sphincter present. Ovary
near posterior end of proglottid, H-shaped in frontal
view, X-shaped in cross section, 175-330 long by
113-141 wide at isthmus; ovarian lobes equal in
length , not reaching level of posterior margin of
cirrus sac. Vitelline follicles extending from level
of ovarian isthmus to near anterior end of pro-
glottid ; follicles 5-8 in diameter.
Host: Potomotrygon magdalenae Dumeril.
Locality: Magdalena River, Cienaga Iobo, vi-
cinity of San Crist6bal, Bolivar, Colombia.
Site of infection: Middle third of spiral valve.
Holotype: USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74804.
Paratypes: USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74805; Univ,
Nebraska State Museum, Manter Lab. No. 74806.
Etymology: The species is named in honor of
Dr. Guillermo Quifiones Gonzalez, director of the
INDERENA laboratory at San Crist6bal.
MAYES ET AL.-TWO NEW ACANTHOBOTHRIUM SPP. FROM STINGRAYS IN SOUTH AMERICA 839
cs
o
Ul
'--- -.-1 6
FIGURES 1-3. Acanthobothrium quinonesi . 1. Scolex. 2. BothridiaI hooks. 3. Mature proglottid.
FIGURES 4-6. Acanthobothrium amazonensis. 4. Scolex. 5. Bothridial hooks. 6. Mature proglottid.
840 THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY, VOL. 64, NO.5. OCTOBER 1978
Remarks
Acanthobothrium quinonesi and the second
new species described in this report most
closely resemble A. terezae Rego and Dias
1977, the only other species known to infect
freshwater stingrays. Acanthobothrium quino-
nesi differs from A. terezae by having a smaller
scolex (maximum width 620 ,urn rather than
3.0 mm) and bothridia (maximum length of
479 ,urn rather than 1.59 mm), by possessing
55-75 rather than 200-260 proglottids per
strobila, and by exhibiting 43-60 rather than
120-140 testes per proglottid. The bothridial
hooks of A. terezae, A. quinonesi, and the
second new species described herein all exhibit
the same dimorphism (see Figs. 2 and 5 of
this paper as well as Figs. 6 and 7 of Rego and
Dias, 1977) wherein one of the inner prongs
of each pair of hooks is longer and more robust
than the other; hooks of A. terezae may reach
326 ,urn in total length whereas those of A.
quinonesi reach only 142 ,urn in total length,
however.
Acanthabathrium amazanensis sp, n.
(Figs . 4-6)
Description (based on 10 specimens): Strobila
acraspedote, apolytic, up to 35 mm long; composed
of 75-100 proglottids. Scolex 612-790 (x = 700,
N = 10) wide, composed of 4 sessile, triseptate
bothridia; each bothridium with apical sucker and
pad, armed with pair of bifid hooks. Bothridia
508-620 (x = 560, N = 25) long by 300--423 (x =
360) wide; anterior loculus 282-378 (x = 325)
long, middle loculus 56-113 (x = 85) long,
posterior loculus 45-96 (x = 70) long. Ratio of
loculi length 1 : 0.25 : 0.20. Apical suckers 85-107
(X = 100) in diameter, pads 158-197 (x = 180)
wide. Hook formula (modified from that of Euzet,
1956) for 40 hooks:
53 -+- 9 (47-62) 105 -+-17 (74-136) 112 -+- 15 (87-137)
168 ± 12 (145 184)
Cephalic peduncle unspined, 423-677 long, 550-
725 wide at insertion to scolex. Immature pro-
glottids wider than long; mature ones 738-2,100
long by 390-975 wide. Testes in anterior %, of
proglottid, 50-72 (x = 62, N = 25) in number,
45-113 long by 36-113 wide; 17-30 preporally,
3-7 postporally, 25-37 antiporally. Cirrus sac near
mid-proglottid, 243-293 long by 96-152 wide, not
curved anteriorly, containing spined eversible cirrus.
Genital atrium small. Genital pore 41-560/0 (x =
49%, N = 25) of proglottid length from anterior
end, alternating irregularly. Vagina anterior to
cirrus sac; vaginal sphincter present. Ovary near
posterior end of proglottid, H-shaped in frontal
view, X-shaped in cross section, 141-564 long by
181-451 wide at isthmus; ovarian lobes follicular,
equal in length, not reaching level of posterior
margin of cirrus sac. Vitelline follicles extending
from level of ovarian isthmus to near anterior end of
proglottid; follicles 11-45 long by 6-45 wide.
Host: Potamotrygon circularis Garman.
Locality: Itacuai River, 5 km south Atalaia do
Norte, Brazil.
Site of infection: Spiral valve.
Holotype : USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74806.
Paratypes: USNM Helm. ColI. No. 74807;
Manter Lab. No. 20562.
Etymology: The species is named for the Amazon
Region where its host resides.
Remarks
Acanthobothrium amazonensis most closely
resembles A. quinonesi but differs by possess-
ing highly lobate ovarian lobes, more testes
(x = 62 rather than 52), smaller bothridial
hooks (maximum total length = 184 rather
than 142 um ) and by having a cirrus sac which
is not curved anteriorly.
The taxonomy of species of Acanthobothrium
has been based primarily on comparison of 17
characters: shape of bothridial hooks (1) ; size
of bothridial hooks (2) ; number of testes (3);
distribution of testes (4); location of genital
pore (5); number of accessory suckers (6);
shape of ovary (7); relative length of ovarian
lobes (8); number of proglottids per strobila
(9) ; presence or absence of prominent genital
atrium (10); relative neck width (11); relative
bothridial width (12); size of cirrus sac (13);
shape of cirrus sac (14); presence or absence
of strobilar spination (15); size of scolex and
strobila (16) ; and relative length of cephalic
peduncle (17) . Acanthobothrium quinonesi
and A. amazonensis resemble each other by
sharing identical characters 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 15, and 17. Among the seven other
characters, there is overlap in variation between
the two species in genital pore location, testes
number, and scolex size, and near overlap in
bothridial hook size and cirrus sac size. The
follicular nature of the ovarian lobes of A.
amazonensis and the anteriorly curved cirrus
sac of A. quinonesi constitute characteristic
differences. Acanthobothrium terezae, also
from a neotropical freshwater stingray, agrees
MAYES ET AL.-TWO NEW ACANTHOBOTHRIUM SPP. FROM STI NGRAYS IN SOUTH AMERICA 841
with A. quinonesi and A. amazonensis in fea-
tur es of characters 1, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, and
17. We th erefore consider the three specie s
from freshwater stingrays in South America
distinct but more similar to each other than
to any other known species.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We express appreciation to the following
people: Augusto Samper , INDERENA-
Bogot a ; Adolfo Baron Porras , Director
INDERENA-Laboratory, Cartagena; Ms.
Consuelo Teran, Biologist-INDERENA Car-
tagena; Mr. James Durkin, Peace Corps-
Cartagena ; Guillermo Quinones Gonzalez,
INDERENA-San Cristobal ; Mr. Michael Tsa-
lickis, Leticia, and Mr. Hans Heinrich, Bogota,
for their aid dur ing th is study.
LITERATURE CITED
EUZET, L. 1956. Theses present ees a la Faculte
des Sciences de MontpeIIie r pour obtenir Ie
grade de Docteur es Sciences NatureIIes: l.
Recherches sur les Cestodes Tetraph yllides des
selaciens des cotes de France. Causse, Graille,
and Castelnau , Montp eIIier, 263 p.
GOLDSTEIN, R. J. 1967. Th e genus Acantho-
bothrium van Beneden , 1849 (C estoda : Tetr a-
phyllidea ). J Parasitol 53: 455-483.
REGO, A. A., AND A. P. L. DIAS. 1977. Estudos
de cest6ides de peixes do Brasil 3.' nota :
cest6ides de raias fluviais paratrygonidae. Rev
Brasil Bioi 36: 941-956.
WILLIAMS, H. H. 1969. The genus Acantho-
bothrium van Bened en 1849 (C estoda : Tetra-
phyllidea ) , Nytt Mag Zoo117: 1-56.


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Two New Species of \u3ci\u3eAcanthobothrium\u3c/i\u3e Van Beneden 1849 (Cestoidea: Tetraphyllidea) from Freshwater Stingrays in South America

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