Tapeworms (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) of Australian reptiles: hidden diversity of strictly host-specific parasites Author Chambrier, Alain De Author Beveridge, Ian Author Scholz, Tomáš text Zootaxa 2018 2018-08-23 4461 4 477 498 journal article 28967 10.11646/zootaxa.4461.4.2 4088067b-9ee8-4fea-b597-059a9de5b6e2 1175-5326 1460246 838E32FD-05BE-47D4-9CF1-E96E7F1C08FF Australophiotaenia sp. 5 Host. Eastern brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) ( Ophidia : Elapidae ). Distribution. Australia (Western Australia). TABLE 2. Species from reptiles in Australia tentastively assigned to Australophiotaenia (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae ), (measurements in µm otherwise stated).
Species Australophiotaenia sp. 1 Australophiotaenia sp. 2 Australophiotaenia sp. 3 Australophiotaenia sp. 4
Host Antaresia maculosa Notechis scutatus Lialis olivaceus Pseudonaja affinis
Ophidia : Pythonidae Ophidia : Elapidae Ophidia : Pythonidae Ophidia : Elapidae
Strobila length N/A 300 mm 41 mm 150–500 mm
Proglottid width 1.50 mm 1.80 mm 0.78 mm 1.80 mm
Scolex width 1,390 795–895 1,075 300
Suckers width 655–675 320–400 395–415 135–150
Apical organ absent ? absent absent
Neck width 1,190 375–435 715 125
Testis number 200–217 111–131 153–182 139–217
Testis fields 2 2 2 2
PC % 28–35% 11-18% 38-45% 16-21%
PP % 50–63% 36-45% 55-60% 59-69%
OV % 61–70% 68–71% 69–72% 59–66%
OV Ratio ? ? ? ?
Mehlis’ gland % ? ? ? ?
Vagina anterior 42%–posterior 58% anterior 54%–posterior 46% anterior 50%–posterior50% anterior 26%–posterior74%
Vaginal sphincter present present present absent
Uterine diverticula 33–34 15–23 ? only mature 38–59
Embryophore 30–38 28–30 ? collapsed
Oncosphere 15 13–15 ? ?
Egg clusters absent absent ? absent
SL probably absent probably absent ? ?
Uterine formation 1 1 1 1
……continued on the next page TABLE 2. (Continued)
Species Australophiotaenia sp. 5 Australophiotaenia sp. 6 Australophiotaenia sp. 7 Australophiotaenia sp. 8 Australophiotaenia sp. 9
Host Pseudonaja textilis Acanthophis antarcticus Aspidites melanocephalus Pseudechis guttatus Morelia spilota
Ophidia : Elapidae Ophidia : Elapidae Ophidia : Pythonidae Ophidia : Elapidae Ophidia : Pythonidae
Strobila length 235–460 mm only proglottids only proglottids N/A 260 mm
Proglottid width 1.90 mm ? ? N/A 1.25 mm
Scolex width 345 ? ? 475 1,040
Suckers width 140–150 ? ? 160–175 350–405
Apical organ present (130) ? ? probably absent present (190)
Neck width 270 ? ? 390 375
Testis number 197–209 56–63 208 61–67 157–171
Testis fields 2 2 2 N/A about 2
PC % 13-18% PC dorsal 45–55% 22-25% 13-20%
PP % 65-68% 65% 57–65% 34-45% 62-70%
OV % 52–60% 46–51% 43–57% 68–83% 63–68%
OV Ratio ? ? ? N/A ?
Mehlis’ gland % ? ? ? N/A ?
Vagina anterior 23%–posterior77% ? anterior 33%–posterior 67% anterior 47%–posterior 53% anterior (n = 20)
Vaginal sphincter absent ? present N/A absent
Uterine diverticula 33–41 12–15 33–35 31–35 12–17
Embryophore 32–35 30 25–30 (collapsed) thin-walled 28–31 (collapsed)
Oncosphere 15 10–12 10–12 ?
Egg clusters absent absent absent absent present (5–8 eggs)
SL yes ? ? ? ?
Uterine formation 1 1 1 1 1
Abbreviations: OV = percentage of the width of the ovary versus the width of the proglottid; PC = percent of the length of the cirrus-sac to the width of the proglottid; PP = position of the genital pore (cirrus pore) as the % of the proglottid length; SL = Supplementary layer of the eggs
Material studied. One fragmented specimen with scolex (12 whole mounts slides), from Walpeup , Victoria ( 35°8'10''S 142°1'30''E ), 28.11.1985 , D.M. Spratt ( ANWC-C525 ) Remarks. This species likely represents a new taxon but the material available is fragmented which prevents us describing this taxon formally. It is characterised by a small scolex, 345 width, with a large apical organ, 130 in diameter, by a small ratio of the length of cirrus-sac versus width of the proglottid (13–18%), and by the presence of a third embryophore layer (See Table 2 ).