Paranoplocephala nearctica, Haukisalmi, Voitto & Henttonen, Heikki, 2007

Haukisalmi, Voitto & Henttonen, Heikki, 2007, A taxonomic revision of the Paranoplocephala primordialis (Douthitt) complex (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) in voles and squirrels, Zootaxa 1548, pp. 51-68 : 65

Paranoplocephala sp. from Microtus oeconomus

In their general morphology, the specimens from Mi. oeconomus clearly belong to the P. primordialis complex ( Fig. 6 ). However, there are a number statistically significant morphometric differences between the specimens from Mi. oeconomus and those representing P. nearctica n. sp. and P. alaskensis n. sp. Particularly, the suckers of Paranoplocephala sp. are absolutely and relatively larger than in any other P. primordialis -like species (Table 2). We therefore suspect that Paranoplocephala sp. from Mi. oeconomus is an independent, hostspecific species. However, because of the limited material and absence of complete, well-stained specimens, we refrain from describing Paranoplocephala sp. as a new species. One specimen from the Ivvavik National Park, North Yukon (MSB Endo 13) has been deposited in the MSB. Earlier, several specimens from Mi. oeconomus from southern Seward Peninsula (Alaska) were deposited in the USNPC (nos. 91085, 91086, 91096–91100, 91103).

Figures

FIGURE 6. A. Scolex of Paranoplocephala nearctica n. sp. (ex. Microtus longicaudus, Alaska). B. Scolex of Paranoplocephala sp. (ex. Microtus oeconomus, Alaska). C. Mature proglottid of Paranoplocephala sp. (ex. Mi. oeconomus, Alaska). D. Mature proglottid of P. nearctica n. sp. (ex. Mi. longicaudus, Alaska). E. Gravid proglottids of Paranoplocephala sp. (ex. Mi. oeconomus, Alaska). Scale-bars in mm.